He will still remain a big part of the EU as he will become the vice president of the European Commision, chairman of all the European Union foreign minister councils and the head of a new EU diplomatic service.
Verse:
John 3:16; Jn 3:16; John 3
Keyword:
Salvation, Jesus, Gospel
With Operators:
AND, OR, NOT, “ â€
Showing posts with label Javier Solana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Javier Solana. Show all posts
Monday, July 06, 2009
Solana to step down
Javier Solana to step down from his position as high representative for the common foreign and security policy when his term expires in October. "I had a ten year mandate which I fulfilled... I don't mean to go any further."
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Solana: EU will decide on ties with Israel after it unveils Palestinian strategy
The European Union will decide what to do about a frozen upgrade in ties with Israel once Israel unveils its Palestinian strategy review, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Wednesday.
Solana said "not much has advanced" in a meeting with new Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Prague and the Israeli side was fully aware of the EU's position, which insists on a two-state solution. (Reuters)
Friday, April 25, 2008
Choosing 'Mr. Europe'
Published: Thursday 24 April 2008
The Treaty of Lisbon, expected to enter in force in 2009, introduces two new European top jobs: a high-profile president who will chair EU summit meetings for a two-and-a-half year term and a revamped foreign policy chief. However, selecting the right people to fill these positions will prove a politically sensitive task in the months ahead.
* News
* LinksDossiers
* Analysis
* Blair and Merkel top EU-wide poll (07 April 2008)
* Clear votes for new EU Treaty in Denmark, Austria and Germany (25 April 2008)
* Lisbon Treaty gets Portugal's nod of approval (24 April 2008)
* Barroso courts the Irish ahead of EU Treaty referendum (18 April 2008)
* Ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon (12 February 2008)
* The 'Treaty of Lisbon' (07 December 2007)
* Rethinking the EU budget (23 April 2008)
* 'Le Monde' goes Europe, the UK goes chicken (09 April 2008)
* The Lisbon Treaty: Playing Presidential poker? (08 April 2008)
* Blair's candidacy would give EU more credibility (07 April 2008)
Milestones:
* 13 Dec. 2007: EU heads of state and government signed the Treaty of Lisbon.
* 20 Feb. 2008: European Parliament approved treaty with 525-115 majority.
* June 2008: Ireland to hold referendum on treaty.
* 12 Dec. 2008: EU summit in Brussels to discuss new post of EU Council president.
* 1 Jan. 2009: Treaty of Lisbon comes into force, provided that it has been ratified by all 27 member states.
* June 2009: European Parliament elections.
Policy Summary Links
The EU's new 'Reform Treaty' was agreed upon by EU leaders at a summit in June 2007 and the updated final text was formally approved in October at an intergovernmental conference (IGC) (EurActiv 19/10/08). The "Treaty of Lisbonexternal ", as it was finally named, was officially signed by EU heads of state and government at a summit in the Portuguese capital on 13 December 2007 (EurActiv 14/12/07).
The treaty aims to streamline EU decision-making by introducing voting reforms in the Council, reducing the size of the Commission and strengthening the role of national parliaments. It also creates two new posts:
* A new, permanent president of the EU Council of Ministers, who will chair EU summits and replace the current system of rotating six-month rotating presidencies, and;
* a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a position currently held by Javier Solana, who will also be EU commissioner for external relations.
The legal foundation
The legal basis for the positions of permanent President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is briefly defined by the Lisbon Treaty:
* Article 9B:
5. The European Council shall elect its President, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. In the event of an impediment or serious misconduct, the European Council can end the President's term of office in accordance with the same procedure.
6. The President of the European Council:
(a) shall chair it and drive forward its work;
(b) shall ensure the preparation and continuity of the work of the European Council in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council;
(c) shall endeavour to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council, and;
(d) shall present a report to the European Parliament after each of the meetings of the European Council.
The President of the European Council shall, at his level and in that capacity, ensure the external representation of the Union on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The President of the European Council shall not hold a national office.
* Article 9E:
1. The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission, shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The European Council may end his term of office by the same procedure.
2. The High Representative shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He shall contribute by his proposals to the development of that policy, which he shall carry out as mandated by the Council. The same shall apply to the common security and defence policy.
3. The High Representative shall preside over the Foreign Affairs Council.
4. The High Representative shall be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. He shall ensure the consistency of the Union's external action. He shall be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities incumbent on it in external relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's external action.
Issues:
Rules and timing unclear
The criteria for who to choose for these two new top positions were not written down in the Lisbon Treaty. It will therefore be up to Europe's heads of state and government to decide on who they want to choose as their new representatives.
Judging from the way the president of the European Commission has been selected in the past, it can be expected that mysterious bargaining will once again take place among the 27 EU countries. According to political analysts, bargaining would not just be limited to the two new positions but would also involve a new "EU Troika":
* The EU Council president;
* the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and;
* the president of the European Commission.
The bargaining package may also be extended to include the positions of the presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament respectively.
The European elections will be held in June 2009 and the next college of the commissioners takes office six months after the European Parliament elections. But it is also possible that the European Council – the formal meeting place of EU heads of states and government - will elect its president first, especially if the ratification process is completed far enough ahead of the European elections. The precise timing of choosing 'Mr. or Ms. Europe' remains unclear.
The big question: who to choose?
In the absence of formal criteria, much speculation has broken out over who should take up the role of EU president. According to Stanley Crossick, a veteran EU policy analyst and founding chairman of the European Policy Centre (EPC) - a Brussels think tank - the new EU Troika needs to strike a balance between the following criteria (see blog post on Blogactiv for full analysisexternal ):
* Nationality;
* geography;
* size of country, and;
* political affiliation.
However, according to Crossick, the most desirable criterion is the person's ability to carry out the relevant responsibility. In this perspective, Crossick argues that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the only person who has "the authority and ability" to ensure the importance of the troika and would also contribute to another desirable criterion, which is gender balance.
According to Alain Lamassoure, a French MEP who advises French President Nicolas Sarkozy on European matters, developing a selection procedure is more useful at this stage than putting forward names of individuals.
Lamassoure argues in favour of waiting until after the June 2009 European elections before launching the nomination process as the political landscape will be clearer then. The election should also enable the leading European political party to influence the choice of Commission president, which will probably remain the most heavily sought-after position in the new troika. In that event, the choice of Commission president will thus belong to the party winning the EU election, leaving the choice of Council president to the party who comes in second.
What do the citizens think?
According to a poll by Harris Interactive published in early April, most European citizens consider German Chancellor Angela Merkel to be the most influential leader in Europe, while Tony Blair is the preferred candidate for the job of EU president.
But Ms. Merkel is not running at the moment, while the chances of Tony Blair appear to be slim due to the opposition of countries such as Belgium. As for Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, considered an ideal candidate by several heavyweight politicians, he is not a recognisable figure for many Europeans. As a possible EU president, he is credited with only 1% support in France, 2% in Germany, 1% in Italy and less than 1% in Spain and the UK.
Links Policy Summary
EU official documents
* Europa: Treaty of Lisbon portal: 'Taking Europe into the 21st century'external [FR]external [DE]external
NGOs and Think-Tanks
* Centre for European Reform : A Prime Candidate?external (11 February 2008)
* Open Europe: An EU PresidentPdf external
* New Europe - Denmark: The EU Liberals line Fogh up as Presidentexternal (11 April 2008)
Blogs
* Federal Union: A president for Europeexternal (5 April 2008)
* Blogactiv - Stanley Crossick's Blog: The 2009 EU Troikaexternal (27 January 2008)
* Blog de Jean Quatremer: L’arrière-garde européenne privée de poste?external (9 April 2008)
* FT Brussels blog: Tony Blair for President?external (1 February 2008)
* European Democracy.org: EU presidency: the quiet candidatesexternal (14 March 2008)
* TheNewFederalist.eu: It's time for one President of the EUexternal (5 March 2008)
* Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as President of the EU: StopBlair.euexternal
Press articles
* The Nation: The mysterious method of choosing “Mr. Europe”external (10 April 2008)
* The Economist: If the EU wants a big hitter as president, it should go for Tony Blairexternal (17 April 2008)
* The Independent: The Big Question: What is the role of the EU President, and who are the leading candidates?external (18 March 2008)
* Der Spiegel: Name-Dropping Begins for EU’s First President (28 January 2008)
* EU Business: Europe needs a George Washington, says former French President (21 February 2008)
* PR Inside: Belgium issues early veto against Blair bid to become EU presidentexternal (2 April 2008)
* The Independent: Brown deal bars Blair from top EU jobexternal (20 April 2008)
The Treaty of Lisbon, expected to enter in force in 2009, introduces two new European top jobs: a high-profile president who will chair EU summit meetings for a two-and-a-half year term and a revamped foreign policy chief. However, selecting the right people to fill these positions will prove a politically sensitive task in the months ahead.
* News
* LinksDossiers
* Analysis
* Blair and Merkel top EU-wide poll (07 April 2008)
* Clear votes for new EU Treaty in Denmark, Austria and Germany (25 April 2008)
* Lisbon Treaty gets Portugal's nod of approval (24 April 2008)
* Barroso courts the Irish ahead of EU Treaty referendum (18 April 2008)
* Ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon (12 February 2008)
* The 'Treaty of Lisbon' (07 December 2007)
* Rethinking the EU budget (23 April 2008)
* 'Le Monde' goes Europe, the UK goes chicken (09 April 2008)
* The Lisbon Treaty: Playing Presidential poker? (08 April 2008)
* Blair's candidacy would give EU more credibility (07 April 2008)
Milestones:
* 13 Dec. 2007: EU heads of state and government signed the Treaty of Lisbon.
* 20 Feb. 2008: European Parliament approved treaty with 525-115 majority.
* June 2008: Ireland to hold referendum on treaty.
* 12 Dec. 2008: EU summit in Brussels to discuss new post of EU Council president.
* 1 Jan. 2009: Treaty of Lisbon comes into force, provided that it has been ratified by all 27 member states.
* June 2009: European Parliament elections.
Policy Summary Links
The EU's new 'Reform Treaty' was agreed upon by EU leaders at a summit in June 2007 and the updated final text was formally approved in October at an intergovernmental conference (IGC) (EurActiv 19/10/08). The "Treaty of Lisbonexternal ", as it was finally named, was officially signed by EU heads of state and government at a summit in the Portuguese capital on 13 December 2007 (EurActiv 14/12/07).
The treaty aims to streamline EU decision-making by introducing voting reforms in the Council, reducing the size of the Commission and strengthening the role of national parliaments. It also creates two new posts:
* A new, permanent president of the EU Council of Ministers, who will chair EU summits and replace the current system of rotating six-month rotating presidencies, and;
* a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a position currently held by Javier Solana, who will also be EU commissioner for external relations.
The legal foundation
The legal basis for the positions of permanent President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is briefly defined by the Lisbon Treaty:
* Article 9B:
5. The European Council shall elect its President, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. In the event of an impediment or serious misconduct, the European Council can end the President's term of office in accordance with the same procedure.
6. The President of the European Council:
(a) shall chair it and drive forward its work;
(b) shall ensure the preparation and continuity of the work of the European Council in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council;
(c) shall endeavour to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council, and;
(d) shall present a report to the European Parliament after each of the meetings of the European Council.
The President of the European Council shall, at his level and in that capacity, ensure the external representation of the Union on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The President of the European Council shall not hold a national office.
* Article 9E:
1. The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission, shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The European Council may end his term of office by the same procedure.
2. The High Representative shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He shall contribute by his proposals to the development of that policy, which he shall carry out as mandated by the Council. The same shall apply to the common security and defence policy.
3. The High Representative shall preside over the Foreign Affairs Council.
4. The High Representative shall be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. He shall ensure the consistency of the Union's external action. He shall be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities incumbent on it in external relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's external action.
Issues:
Rules and timing unclear
The criteria for who to choose for these two new top positions were not written down in the Lisbon Treaty. It will therefore be up to Europe's heads of state and government to decide on who they want to choose as their new representatives.
Judging from the way the president of the European Commission has been selected in the past, it can be expected that mysterious bargaining will once again take place among the 27 EU countries. According to political analysts, bargaining would not just be limited to the two new positions but would also involve a new "EU Troika":
* The EU Council president;
* the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and;
* the president of the European Commission.
The bargaining package may also be extended to include the positions of the presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament respectively.
The European elections will be held in June 2009 and the next college of the commissioners takes office six months after the European Parliament elections. But it is also possible that the European Council – the formal meeting place of EU heads of states and government - will elect its president first, especially if the ratification process is completed far enough ahead of the European elections. The precise timing of choosing 'Mr. or Ms. Europe' remains unclear.
The big question: who to choose?
In the absence of formal criteria, much speculation has broken out over who should take up the role of EU president. According to Stanley Crossick, a veteran EU policy analyst and founding chairman of the European Policy Centre (EPC) - a Brussels think tank - the new EU Troika needs to strike a balance between the following criteria (see blog post on Blogactiv for full analysisexternal ):
* Nationality;
* geography;
* size of country, and;
* political affiliation.
However, according to Crossick, the most desirable criterion is the person's ability to carry out the relevant responsibility. In this perspective, Crossick argues that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the only person who has "the authority and ability" to ensure the importance of the troika and would also contribute to another desirable criterion, which is gender balance.
According to Alain Lamassoure, a French MEP who advises French President Nicolas Sarkozy on European matters, developing a selection procedure is more useful at this stage than putting forward names of individuals.
Lamassoure argues in favour of waiting until after the June 2009 European elections before launching the nomination process as the political landscape will be clearer then. The election should also enable the leading European political party to influence the choice of Commission president, which will probably remain the most heavily sought-after position in the new troika. In that event, the choice of Commission president will thus belong to the party winning the EU election, leaving the choice of Council president to the party who comes in second.
What do the citizens think?
According to a poll by Harris Interactive published in early April, most European citizens consider German Chancellor Angela Merkel to be the most influential leader in Europe, while Tony Blair is the preferred candidate for the job of EU president.
But Ms. Merkel is not running at the moment, while the chances of Tony Blair appear to be slim due to the opposition of countries such as Belgium. As for Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, considered an ideal candidate by several heavyweight politicians, he is not a recognisable figure for many Europeans. As a possible EU president, he is credited with only 1% support in France, 2% in Germany, 1% in Italy and less than 1% in Spain and the UK.
Links Policy Summary
EU official documents
* Europa: Treaty of Lisbon portal: 'Taking Europe into the 21st century'external [FR]external [DE]external
NGOs and Think-Tanks
* Centre for European Reform : A Prime Candidate?external (11 February 2008)
* Open Europe: An EU PresidentPdf external
* New Europe - Denmark: The EU Liberals line Fogh up as Presidentexternal (11 April 2008)
Blogs
* Federal Union: A president for Europeexternal (5 April 2008)
* Blogactiv - Stanley Crossick's Blog: The 2009 EU Troikaexternal (27 January 2008)
* Blog de Jean Quatremer: L’arrière-garde européenne privée de poste?external (9 April 2008)
* FT Brussels blog: Tony Blair for President?external (1 February 2008)
* European Democracy.org: EU presidency: the quiet candidatesexternal (14 March 2008)
* TheNewFederalist.eu: It's time for one President of the EUexternal (5 March 2008)
* Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as President of the EU: StopBlair.euexternal
Press articles
* The Nation: The mysterious method of choosing “Mr. Europe”external (10 April 2008)
* The Economist: If the EU wants a big hitter as president, it should go for Tony Blairexternal (17 April 2008)
* The Independent: The Big Question: What is the role of the EU President, and who are the leading candidates?external (18 March 2008)
* Der Spiegel: Name-Dropping Begins for EU’s First President (28 January 2008)
* EU Business: Europe needs a George Washington, says former French President (21 February 2008)
* PR Inside: Belgium issues early veto against Blair bid to become EU presidentexternal (2 April 2008)
* The Independent: Brown deal bars Blair from top EU jobexternal (20 April 2008)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Israel first ENP partner able to participate in various EU programs
Original article: www.ejpress.org/article/26256
3 Updated: 16/Apr/2008 16:07
BRUSSELS (EJP)---Israel signed Tuesday an agreement with the European Union which gives Israeli bodies and organizations the ability to participate in various programs proposed by the EU.
The protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement was signed by Israel’s ambassador to the EU, Ran Curiel, and Igor Sencar, Slovenia’s ambassador to the EU whose countries currently chairs the union.
Israel is the first country among all the partners of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) to sign the agreement, a new step forward in Israel’s efforts to upgrade its relations with the European Union.
The ENP covers 16 EU’s eastern and southern neighbours, including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia from the one side and Israel, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and the Palestinian Territories from the other side.
The programs concerned by the agreement cover various fields: environment, customs, academy, energy, competition, innovation, culture and Youth Programs.
Israel was the first non-EU country that took part in the European Framework Program for Research and Technological Development, and in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program, as well as one of the first participants in the Galileo project, the Global Navigation Satellite System of the EU, and in the European Space Agency.
The European Commission recently described Israel as the "front-runner" among non-EU members participating in EU programs.
A “reflection group” is considering areas where EU-Israel relations can be substantially upgraded to a "special status.”
The EU is Israel’s main trade partner, with imports representing 38 % and exports 33 %. Data for the first quarter of 2007 show an increase respectively of 7.2 and 3.0 % compared to the same period of 2006.
The EU and Israel signed in 1995 an Association Agreement which came into force in 2005. In addition to the political dialogue, the agreement covers areas such as industry, energy, standards, financial services, information infrastructures and telecommunications, transport and tourism.
The EU-Israel Association Council meets annually at ministerial level.
3 Updated: 16/Apr/2008 16:07
BRUSSELS (EJP)---Israel signed Tuesday an agreement with the European Union which gives Israeli bodies and organizations the ability to participate in various programs proposed by the EU.
The protocol to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement was signed by Israel’s ambassador to the EU, Ran Curiel, and Igor Sencar, Slovenia’s ambassador to the EU whose countries currently chairs the union.
Israel is the first country among all the partners of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) to sign the agreement, a new step forward in Israel’s efforts to upgrade its relations with the European Union.
The ENP covers 16 EU’s eastern and southern neighbours, including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia from the one side and Israel, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and the Palestinian Territories from the other side.
The programs concerned by the agreement cover various fields: environment, customs, academy, energy, competition, innovation, culture and Youth Programs.
Israel was the first non-EU country that took part in the European Framework Program for Research and Technological Development, and in the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program, as well as one of the first participants in the Galileo project, the Global Navigation Satellite System of the EU, and in the European Space Agency.
The European Commission recently described Israel as the "front-runner" among non-EU members participating in EU programs.
A “reflection group” is considering areas where EU-Israel relations can be substantially upgraded to a "special status.”
The EU is Israel’s main trade partner, with imports representing 38 % and exports 33 %. Data for the first quarter of 2007 show an increase respectively of 7.2 and 3.0 % compared to the same period of 2006.
The EU and Israel signed in 1995 an Association Agreement which came into force in 2005. In addition to the political dialogue, the agreement covers areas such as industry, energy, standards, financial services, information infrastructures and telecommunications, transport and tourism.
The EU-Israel Association Council meets annually at ministerial level.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Secret deal between EU-3 blocks Blair as EU president
21.04.2008 - 09:30 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
UK prime minister Gordon Brown has agreed to a secret deal with Germany and France which effectively rules out Tony Blair as a new EU president but the British ex-leader is also interested in the new role of Europe's foreign chief, a UK daily is reporting.
"We have agreed with France and Germany not to back a candidate one of the others doesn't want," a British diplomat is quoted saying by the Independent.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy previously backed Mr Blair as a possible candidate to head the EU's 27 member states while Mr Brown praised his potential qualities for the job but did not specifically back him.
At the same time, German chancellor Angela Merkel is reportedly opposed to such a scenario, which means that - under a new deal referred to by the British diplomat in the article – her opposition would automatically spoil Mr Blair's chances of being supported by any of Europe's three biggest countries.
Apart from Tony Blair, the other candidate mentioned most often and thought to enjoy backing by Berlin and Paris is Luxembourg's prime minister and veteran of the EU stage, Jean-Claude Juncker.
The position of the EU's president is contained in the bloc's Lisbon Treaty under the official heading of President of the European Council. The European Council refers to the regular meetings of EU leaders.
Talks have begun on what kind of salary, personnel and other perks the president should have.
But the actual job description of the EU president – a job that can be held for up to five years - still has yet to be decided. While his or her appointment would replace the current practice whereby the bloc is headed by a different EU leader every six months, it is unclear whether the role will be merely administrative or something more powerful.
In chairing the 27-nation bloc, the EU president would work together with another post created by the Lisbon Treaty, the EU foreign minister.
The new post will merge together the chair of Javier Solana as the EU's current foreign policy chief and that of Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the current European commissioner for external relations.
According to the Independent, Tony Blair may also be interested in becoming the new EU foreign minister.
The Lisbon Treaty is scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2009.
Nine member states have already ratified the treaty, others are planning to hold a parliamentary vote at some stage this year. Only Ireland will decide by a referendum, due on 12 June.
UK prime minister Gordon Brown has agreed to a secret deal with Germany and France which effectively rules out Tony Blair as a new EU president but the British ex-leader is also interested in the new role of Europe's foreign chief, a UK daily is reporting.
"We have agreed with France and Germany not to back a candidate one of the others doesn't want," a British diplomat is quoted saying by the Independent.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy previously backed Mr Blair as a possible candidate to head the EU's 27 member states while Mr Brown praised his potential qualities for the job but did not specifically back him.
At the same time, German chancellor Angela Merkel is reportedly opposed to such a scenario, which means that - under a new deal referred to by the British diplomat in the article – her opposition would automatically spoil Mr Blair's chances of being supported by any of Europe's three biggest countries.
Apart from Tony Blair, the other candidate mentioned most often and thought to enjoy backing by Berlin and Paris is Luxembourg's prime minister and veteran of the EU stage, Jean-Claude Juncker.
The position of the EU's president is contained in the bloc's Lisbon Treaty under the official heading of President of the European Council. The European Council refers to the regular meetings of EU leaders.
Talks have begun on what kind of salary, personnel and other perks the president should have.
But the actual job description of the EU president – a job that can be held for up to five years - still has yet to be decided. While his or her appointment would replace the current practice whereby the bloc is headed by a different EU leader every six months, it is unclear whether the role will be merely administrative or something more powerful.
In chairing the 27-nation bloc, the EU president would work together with another post created by the Lisbon Treaty, the EU foreign minister.
The new post will merge together the chair of Javier Solana as the EU's current foreign policy chief and that of Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the current European commissioner for external relations.
According to the Independent, Tony Blair may also be interested in becoming the new EU foreign minister.
The Lisbon Treaty is scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2009.
Nine member states have already ratified the treaty, others are planning to hold a parliamentary vote at some stage this year. Only Ireland will decide by a referendum, due on 12 June.
Defining a better Mediterranean union
By Dana Moss
Commentary by
Next July 13, in Paris, Europe will better define the Union for the Mediterranean (UM), its latest venture in the Middle East. Initially proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the idea has undergone radical transformation, so that the current incarnation bears little resemblance to the initial proposal. The shape of the UM will only be clear once the July summit is over, but as things now stand, the union holds many challenges, but also some promise, for the Middle East.
The original idea, floated during Sarkozy's presidential campaign, was highly nebulous. Seen as a means of rebuilding France's role in the Middle East, the plan was also a way for Sarkozy to appeal to voters of North African origin. Initially, it involved the 10 Mediterranean states and only the southern states of the European Union. However, Germany, fearing the creation of a power block within the EU, vociferously objected. Chancellor Angela Merkel slammed the plan as "very dangerous," arguing it would release "explosive forces in the EU that I would not like to see."
As a result of German lobbying, the UM idea has since been watered down. Whereas initially the union was to be independent of existing EU instruments, such as the Barcelona Process and the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), it has now been reconfigured, as Hans-Gert Pottering, the president of the European Parliament, has described it, to "strengthen and further the Barcelona Process." The UM is now attached to the EU and involves all 27 member states. Additional EU funds will not be forthcoming, although it is rumored that Qatar and private donors will be contributing money. The UM, however, does still maintain its project-specific nature, with an opt-out clause for those states who do not wish to take part in the projects being offered, which currently center on energy, pollution, and civil security cooperation issues.
But even the new, expanded project is drawing a fair amount of flak. As one commentator noted, the involvement of the 27 EU states may lead to a danger of "too many meetings, with too many participants that achieve too little." Such concerns compound fears of duplication and an expansion of an already overly bureaucratic European system, unless extreme care is taken in overseeing the linkage with the ENP.
Pessimists point to other potential stumbling blocks - primarily the acrimonious relations between the Middle Eastern partners in the UM. Chief among these worries is the simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but hostile Syrian-Lebanese relations and Moroccan-Algerian tensions are also predicted to place limits on what the UM can realistically achieve. Supporters, however, liken this to the EU model, whereby shared interests might generate conflict resolution, with French Minister for European Affairs Henri Guaino arguing that "it's through concrete cooperation ... that we can create solidarity between nations."
As observers have noted, most of the areas marked for projects have been those where collaboration has taken place under the Barcelona Process. Closer regional relations, therefore, will have to result not from a novel approach, but from revived association - a question of degree, not content.
Yet if Guaino's argument is correct, then the UM might do more than enable Israeli-Palestinian cooperation. Collaboration on various projects may also provide a helpful platform in aiding rapprochement in North Africa, vital in light of rising violence by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Another point of criticism is the lack of clarity regarding the relationship of the UM with the EU's political basket - namely the need to enhance democracy and rule of law in the Middle East. So far, the UM appears focused on business-oriented initiatives, leading human rights activists to fear the sidelining of democracy and rule of law requirements within the framework of the EU's relationship with the Mediterranean states.
Yet the silence over governance issues can cut both ways. For the Arab counterparts, it's a welcome relief. Combined with the shared presidency of the UM (one European country will hold the post together with a Mediterranean country), this could go some way toward addressing regional resentment of the Barcelona Process and the ENP - viewed by many as unfairly weighed in favor of the EU. Redressing this imbalance will enable a sense of appropriation by the Mediterranean counterparts, providing for more enthusiastic European-Middle East relations.
This will no doubt be propelled forward by the economic regeneration and job creation aims of the UM. Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci summarized the Middle Eastern reaction when he said "if the aim of this project is to create development projects in the Mediterranean region then it is obvious that we should support it." Yet laudable though these aims are, the focus on economic reform must be coupled with pressure for political reform within the ENP framework. Unless the two are twinned, economic advantages may continue to primarily benefit groups close to the political elite, as opposed to Middle Eastern populations at large.
Aside from these concerns, major questions remain. How will Syria, whose association agreement with the EU has been frozen as a result of its suspected role in the February 2005 assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, fit into this framework? What shape can EU-Libyan relations take? The signs are encouraging for future EU-Middle Eastern relations, but to fulfill the promise of the UM, European policymakers must also be aware of the potential problems.
Dana Moss is a senior fellow at the Transatlantic Institute in Brussels. She wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.
Commentary by
Next July 13, in Paris, Europe will better define the Union for the Mediterranean (UM), its latest venture in the Middle East. Initially proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the idea has undergone radical transformation, so that the current incarnation bears little resemblance to the initial proposal. The shape of the UM will only be clear once the July summit is over, but as things now stand, the union holds many challenges, but also some promise, for the Middle East.
The original idea, floated during Sarkozy's presidential campaign, was highly nebulous. Seen as a means of rebuilding France's role in the Middle East, the plan was also a way for Sarkozy to appeal to voters of North African origin. Initially, it involved the 10 Mediterranean states and only the southern states of the European Union. However, Germany, fearing the creation of a power block within the EU, vociferously objected. Chancellor Angela Merkel slammed the plan as "very dangerous," arguing it would release "explosive forces in the EU that I would not like to see."
As a result of German lobbying, the UM idea has since been watered down. Whereas initially the union was to be independent of existing EU instruments, such as the Barcelona Process and the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), it has now been reconfigured, as Hans-Gert Pottering, the president of the European Parliament, has described it, to "strengthen and further the Barcelona Process." The UM is now attached to the EU and involves all 27 member states. Additional EU funds will not be forthcoming, although it is rumored that Qatar and private donors will be contributing money. The UM, however, does still maintain its project-specific nature, with an opt-out clause for those states who do not wish to take part in the projects being offered, which currently center on energy, pollution, and civil security cooperation issues.
But even the new, expanded project is drawing a fair amount of flak. As one commentator noted, the involvement of the 27 EU states may lead to a danger of "too many meetings, with too many participants that achieve too little." Such concerns compound fears of duplication and an expansion of an already overly bureaucratic European system, unless extreme care is taken in overseeing the linkage with the ENP.
Pessimists point to other potential stumbling blocks - primarily the acrimonious relations between the Middle Eastern partners in the UM. Chief among these worries is the simmering Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but hostile Syrian-Lebanese relations and Moroccan-Algerian tensions are also predicted to place limits on what the UM can realistically achieve. Supporters, however, liken this to the EU model, whereby shared interests might generate conflict resolution, with French Minister for European Affairs Henri Guaino arguing that "it's through concrete cooperation ... that we can create solidarity between nations."
As observers have noted, most of the areas marked for projects have been those where collaboration has taken place under the Barcelona Process. Closer regional relations, therefore, will have to result not from a novel approach, but from revived association - a question of degree, not content.
Yet if Guaino's argument is correct, then the UM might do more than enable Israeli-Palestinian cooperation. Collaboration on various projects may also provide a helpful platform in aiding rapprochement in North Africa, vital in light of rising violence by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Another point of criticism is the lack of clarity regarding the relationship of the UM with the EU's political basket - namely the need to enhance democracy and rule of law in the Middle East. So far, the UM appears focused on business-oriented initiatives, leading human rights activists to fear the sidelining of democracy and rule of law requirements within the framework of the EU's relationship with the Mediterranean states.
Yet the silence over governance issues can cut both ways. For the Arab counterparts, it's a welcome relief. Combined with the shared presidency of the UM (one European country will hold the post together with a Mediterranean country), this could go some way toward addressing regional resentment of the Barcelona Process and the ENP - viewed by many as unfairly weighed in favor of the EU. Redressing this imbalance will enable a sense of appropriation by the Mediterranean counterparts, providing for more enthusiastic European-Middle East relations.
This will no doubt be propelled forward by the economic regeneration and job creation aims of the UM. Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci summarized the Middle Eastern reaction when he said "if the aim of this project is to create development projects in the Mediterranean region then it is obvious that we should support it." Yet laudable though these aims are, the focus on economic reform must be coupled with pressure for political reform within the ENP framework. Unless the two are twinned, economic advantages may continue to primarily benefit groups close to the political elite, as opposed to Middle Eastern populations at large.
Aside from these concerns, major questions remain. How will Syria, whose association agreement with the EU has been frozen as a result of its suspected role in the February 2005 assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, fit into this framework? What shape can EU-Libyan relations take? The signs are encouraging for future EU-Middle Eastern relations, but to fulfill the promise of the UM, European policymakers must also be aware of the potential problems.
Dana Moss is a senior fellow at the Transatlantic Institute in Brussels. She wrote this commentary for THE DAILY STAR.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Solana says Israel-Palestinian agreement likely this year
BRUSSELS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's top diplomat Javier Solana said here Tuesday Israel and the Palestinians could possibly strike a peace deal this year.
"Politically, an important meeting took place yesterday," he said in the European Parliament, referring to the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Jerusalem.
"I do think that we have still a chance to move the process to a settlement before the end of year 2008," Solana said, adding "I don't want to sound too optimistic, I want to sound realistic."
He said if the process was not able to be pushed forward "in a dynamic manner by this period of time, maybe we'll have to begin to think that the possibility of an agreement in the year 2008 will be further away."
The summer would see a clearer prospect, said Solana, who noted that the situation in Gaza has become "more relaxed than it used to be."
Olmert and Abbas, who met for the first time in nearly two months, promised to push for "an historic agreement" by the end of this year.
"Politically, an important meeting took place yesterday," he said in the European Parliament, referring to the meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas in Jerusalem.
"I do think that we have still a chance to move the process to a settlement before the end of year 2008," Solana said, adding "I don't want to sound too optimistic, I want to sound realistic."
He said if the process was not able to be pushed forward "in a dynamic manner by this period of time, maybe we'll have to begin to think that the possibility of an agreement in the year 2008 will be further away."
The summer would see a clearer prospect, said Solana, who noted that the situation in Gaza has become "more relaxed than it used to be."
Olmert and Abbas, who met for the first time in nearly two months, promised to push for "an historic agreement" by the end of this year.
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