European Union members must meet the new challenge of a wider EU by embracing an inclusive 'open Europe' agenda, committed to future EU enlargement and strengthened support to neighbouring countries in the development of democracy and the rule of law, according to the members of the Policy Association for an Open Society (PASOS). The European Neighbourhood Policy should be given strengthened support in the European Council budget discussions on 16-17 June, states PASOS.
PASOS backs the progress, as set out in the proposed Constitution, towards an EU foreign policy steered by one EU Foreign Minister rather than the current combination of an EU External Relations Commissioner and an EU High representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy. This development should proceed even if the ratification of the EU Constitution is halted. The newest EU members should be engaged in the EU foreign policy debate in the spirit of inclusion, and the results of the French and Dutch referenda on the proposed EU Constitution should not be used to put a halt to future EU enlargement. PASOS urges the European Council to send a clear signal to Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey that membership negotiations will remain on course.
A co-ordinated EU foreign policy, with a particular emphasis on European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and economic development, should be placed at the top of the agenda, says PASOS, a network of 23 policy centres in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
PASOS calls upon the European Council to adopt a co-ordinated long-term foreign policy strategy to secure stability, peace, human rights, democracy, and sustainable economic and social development in countries neighbouring the EU, in particular in the Balkans, the Caucasus region and Central Asia, but also in the Middle East and North Africa. The policy should include the prospect of future membership for Turkey, the countries of the Western Balkans and Ukraine, and an open door to further enlargement to include other members of the Newly Independent States, such as Georgia and Moldova.
In addition, PASOS calls upon the long-standing EU members to follow the example of Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom by moving to accept the free movement of labour within the EU for citizens of all EU members. PASOS members also urge the European Council to press ahead with the extension of the Schengen area of passport-free travel. It is essential, says PASOS, to continue to further EU cohesion policies based on the idea of solidarity between less and more developed member states while also increasing Europe "xs capacity for innovation and economic and social development in line with the Lisbon agenda.
PASOS, which includes 23 non-partisan policy centres in 17 countries, promotes and protects open society values, including democracy, rule of law, good governance, respect for and protection of human rights, economic and social development. The PASOS Secretariat was opened in Prague, Czech Republic, in March 2005.
