What role in the world?

The European Union needs an unambiguous, strong and efficient foreign policy. This was stated last week by the 27 of the Parliament, meeting at a plenary session in Brussels June 4 and 5. They also pointed out the excessive degree of inconsistencies and divisions between member States and their common institutions. During this assembly, the Members of Parliament stressed the priority of relations between the EU and the United States, for which a Summit is planned in the same building on June 10, and then focused on Euro-Mediterranean policy in view of the Summit that will be dedicated to this in Paris on July 13.Shared principles for efficient action. According to the Assembly of the 27, CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policy), is a fundamental element in “strengthening European identity” and in “the role of the EU as a global actor”. However, the European parliamentarians denounce the “reluctance of the member States to adopt the necessary and indispensible reforms” for making foreign policy more efficient. In fact, the “role of the European Union in the world does not live up to its potentials and to the expectations of public opinion” on the continent. The Parliament therefore asks for “transcending the power of vetoes by the introduction of a qualified majority vote” within the Council for that sector. This was clearly explained by the Polish parliamentarian, Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, whose proposal received 520 ayes, and 107 noes. In order to pursue this path it would be necessary that common objectives be clearly defined on the level of the Community, using “adequate instruments.” The proposal thus indicates the guiding principles to which the EU should adhere on a planetary level: respect for International law, an effective multilateralism, human security and the right of citizen to be protected in the entire world, by International institutions.”The priority is the “Civil body of peace.” Amongst the “geographical priorities” indicated by the European Chamber on the other hand, there are: creating stability in the western Balkans, the Eulex mission in Kosovo, a courageous politics of neighborhood and cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area, intensifying negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, the partnership with Moscow, reinforcing the “transatlantic alliance” with the United States. The “problematic” regions that remain include the entire Middle East (with the specific cases of Iran and Afghanistan) and China. There are many “thematic priorities.” On the top of the CFSP agenda, the assembly places staving off terrorism, the problems related to migrational flux, the question of energy, the fight against arms of mass destruction. With another document, presented by the German representative, Helmut Kuhne, the assembly then invited the Council and the Commission to institute an “EU civilian body for peace” and for “crisis management and conflict prevention.” Red card against forced prostitution. The plenary session did not focus only on foreign policy. Anna Zaborska, the Slovackan European parliamentarian, presides over the EU Parliament’s commission on the rights of women. On occasion of the Euro2008 Soccer finals, she launched an alarm against prostitution, as had happened on the occasion of the world football championships in 2006. “We want to state that forced prostitution and slavery of women are unacceptable forms of violence and all of us have the duty of fighting against such forms of exploitation”. “No one wants to disturb the sports event” and no fingers are being pointed against Austria and Switzerland, the two organizing countries of the tourneo. “This concerns the defence of persons who are subjected to violence and exploitation”, Zaborska recalled, supported by her eolleagues Christa Prets (Austria) and Lissy Groner (Germany). The topic reached the assembly thanks to an oral question asking the EU what measures had been taken “to work against the slavery of women for sexual exploitation”, as contained in a specific “plan of action” by the Community. Sensitizing the citizens. These parliamentarians requested creating initiatives to sensitize the citizens and to “encourage cross-border cooperation between police.” Zaborska, Prets e Groner moreover took the opportunità to launch again their campaign of “Red card against forced prostitution”, begun in 2006. But what is the number of persons who could be objects of forced prostitution during the period of Euro2008? “We do not have a precise number”, Christa Prets replies to SIR -. “Not even police organizations are certain of the numbers. But we have testimony and warnings by associations concerned with this problem.” According to them there are thousands of girls, especially from the East, who are forced to prostitute themselves in the countries that host the games.