VP/HR — EU strategy vis-à-vis the Eastern Partnership Countries
17.1.2014
Question for written answer E-000440-14
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 117
Pino Arlacchi (S&D)
The recent developments in European Eastern Partnership countries have shown the failure of EU policy towards them. It could in fact be said that the major flaw of our eastern policy is that it passively follows the US strategy in the region, and its anti-Russian and clash of civilization profile. Euro-American policies are also characterised by other mistakes. First, there was the pretence of exporting something — free-market democracy — which cannot be exported because, while on the one hand it is already potentially present everywhere, since it is universal, on the other it needs its own timeframe and its own tools to develop and establish itself.
Secondly, the EU gave its support and trust to local forces that were interested in the values and institutions of the West in appearance only, but were actually only craving power and money, and were ready to change sides and use ultra-nationalism and chauvinism to keep afloat.
Many observers believe that, in order to promote successful cooperation with the EaP countries, the EU and the US should have adopted a totally different attitude towards Russia and Iran, the two major regional powers.
Given the latest events, and following the Vilnius summit:
- 1.what measures is the EU planning to take in order to change and relaunch its relationship with the Eastern Partnership countries?
- 2.does the High Representative believe that the EU should learn from past mistakes and detach its policies from those of the US by abandoning the Cold War approach and making a U-turn towards cooperation and peace?
OJ C 288, 28/08/2014