"The European citizens expect the European Union to use its considerable international influence to defend and promote their interests, and our international partners hope that Europe will take on its global responsibilities". In view of the summit on June 15-16, the Commission is preparing a few projects which will be illustrated to the Heads of State and Prime Ministers of the 25 members. Today, the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, made known a document which was meant "to strengthen the external action of the European Union". According to Barroso, "the European Union can have a higher impact by acting collectively, rather than as sum of its components". The text, entitled "Europe in the world: practical proposals for higher coherence, efficiency and visibility", would be "the answer to the meeting of the Heads of State and Prime Ministers taking place last October in Hampton Court, during which it was decided that the Union was supposed to strengthen its external action, including the connection between internal and external policies". Among the initiatives: a "better strategic planning" (strengthening the role of the commissioner group in charge of external relations, whose activities will be supported by the High representative, Javier Solana); "higher cooperation between the Commission and the Secretariat of the Council" (management of the international crises); strengthening of the relations with member States.
