The Arab identity "is by no means incompatible with the concept of modernity, nor with the commitment to serious reforms" in the social and political spheres. This was written in the report of the French MEP Michel Rocard, passed today by the EU Parliament in Brussels. The report expresses the wish that the partnership with the Arab countries will get stronger, "in the respect of the traditions and cultures" as well as of human rights and the constitutional state. The EU should "locate clear and specific areas of cooperation, in agreement with the existing political facilities"; at the same time, though, Parliament asks the nations involved in such cooperation to give more guarantees as to freedom of religion and expression and to grant full rights to women. The MEPs state that a new partnership should be based "on understanding, mutual trust, the respect of social and cultural practices, and the other’s reliability". Finally, they state that "the westernalisation of Arab societies is not the most appropriate way to deliver such result", while the concepts of democracy, human rights and constitutional state "are universal values that numberless Muslim authorities and governments have said are compatible with Islam".
