BRUSSELS -- Senior European Parliament deputies today said the EU must make better use of its neighborhood policy as a foreign-policy tool, RFE/RL reports.
The European Neighborhood Policy, first outlined in 2003, is an EU outreach program for eastern and southern neighbors, with the significant exception of Russia, which wants a separate cooperation framework.
Speaking during a debate in Strasbourg on EU support for regional crossborder cooperation projects, Elmar Brok, a German Christian Democrat, said the EU must recognize that regional policy at its borders "overlaps" with foreign policy -- without "getting bogged down in detail."
"This is not an aggressive act and has nothing to do with spheres of influence," Brok said. "It is a classic opportunity to create a strategy which recognizes that border areas have always been conflict zones -- also within the European Union, helping [the EU] to successfully engage its neighborhood in resolving minority conflicts [and creating stability]."
Evgeni Kirilov, a prominent Bulgarian socialist, said the EU must not be used as a "milk cow" by its neighbors but actively strive to manage conflicts in its neighborhoods. He said continuing to let conflicts fester undermines the EU's broader foreign policy aims.
Brok and a number of other deputies also said the EU strategy for Russia must distinguish it more clearly from other neighbors.
The European Neighborhood Policy, first outlined in 2003, is an EU outreach program for eastern and southern neighbors, with the significant exception of Russia, which wants a separate cooperation framework.
Speaking during a debate in Strasbourg on EU support for regional crossborder cooperation projects, Elmar Brok, a German Christian Democrat, said the EU must recognize that regional policy at its borders "overlaps" with foreign policy -- without "getting bogged down in detail."
"This is not an aggressive act and has nothing to do with spheres of influence," Brok said. "It is a classic opportunity to create a strategy which recognizes that border areas have always been conflict zones -- also within the European Union, helping [the EU] to successfully engage its neighborhood in resolving minority conflicts [and creating stability]."
Evgeni Kirilov, a prominent Bulgarian socialist, said the EU must not be used as a "milk cow" by its neighbors but actively strive to manage conflicts in its neighborhoods. He said continuing to let conflicts fester undermines the EU's broader foreign policy aims.
Brok and a number of other deputies also said the EU strategy for Russia must distinguish it more clearly from other neighbors.