From Arab Awakenings to Arab Spring - the road to reform

European values - universal?

The unfolding events in the Arab world since the end of 2010 have already proven that the Western perception that democracy and social justice are exclusively Western values is groundless. Oppression, the police state, unprecedented corruption and bad governance contributing to extreme poverty, torture and a lack of democracy and human rights led to revolt in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain and Syria - and the list could grow.

The initial reluctant and uncoordinated EU reaction towards the groundbreaking events in Tunisia and Egypt was succeeded by an increasingly solid belief that our values have proven to be appealing to like-minded, educated people the world over. International humanitarian law transcends any narrow interpretation of "non-interference" in the internal matters of a sovereign state. Threats to international peace and security do not concern states only; they also concern human security.

Sustainable reform - a long road

To this end, the EU has actively supported the end of violence and the peaceful democratic transition in the countries of its Southern neighbourhood. But experience so far has shown that the so-called 'Arab Spring' is not something that comes automatically with the fall of a dictator. What lies ahead is a lengthy normalisation period where all warranted reforms should be undertaken to respond to the Arab peoples' legitimate aspirations for freedom, dignity, democracy and prosperity.

The EU's strategic response to the Arab Spring came in May 2011 with the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy that set out an approach based on the respect of universal values and shared interests. It aimed to promote reforms not only limited to the drafting of democratic constitutions and conducting free and fair elections, but also creating and sustaining an independent judiciary, a thriving free press, a dynamic civil society and all other characteristics of a mature functioning democracy. Importantly, these reforms are a matter to be achieved from within and not imposed from outside.

Dangling the economic carrot

The reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy also proposed the 'more for more' principle, under which increased support in terms of financial assistance, enhanced mobility and access to the EU Single Market is to be made available, on the basis of mutual accountability, to those partner countries most advanced in the consolidation of reforms (the 3 'Μ's: money, mobility, market). This is emphasised through the upgraded role of civil society, as well as our newly-created instruments for the Neighbourhood countries such as the Civil Society Facility (CSF). Another element in the EU's comprehensive approach is the European Commission's initiative to implement the 'No Disconnect Strategy' which will contribute to ensuring that human rights in the region are respected online. Throughout, country ownership is the underlying key principle of the proposals.

In addition, deep and comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreements with certain countries of the region such as Morocco, Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia are in the pipeline. The creation of a European Endowment for Democracy will reflect all these initiatives by building up the EU's comprehensive approach to the region.

Renewing relationships with the Arab world

The EU has also built up renewed and structured contacts with its Arab counterparts. Visits from the Heads of the three EU Institutions have been ongoing since 2011, while the appointment of an EU Special Representative for the Southern Mediterranean, Bernandino Léon, enhances political dialogue with our Southern neighbours and helps ensure optimal coordination of efforts among the EU Institutions, EU Member States, relevant financial institutions and the private sector.

A strong role for the EPP Group

The EPP Group itself has been a pioneer in this field. We have drafted a comprehensive strategy for relations with our Southern neighbourhood, aiming to enhance our contacts with our interlocutors from the national parliaments and civil society organisations of the countries concerned. To this end, we hosted a week of meetings in September in Brussels with a delegation of parliamentarians from 3 Tunisian political parties to exchange views on a variety of issues. This will continue with other countries of the region, while we have already started a programme of traineeships for young and like-minded politicians from our Southern neighbourhood.

The European Parliament has given detailed input for the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy and has submitted to the Commission and the Council numerous concrete ideas through Reports and Resolutions on a wide series of policies from political support, financial aid, trade facilitation and technical support, to new mobility programmes (Erasmus Mundus) but also transparent and coherent procedures for imposing sanctions and restrictive measures for countries not respecting the fundamental freedoms we stand for.

What now?

The EU made a timely declaration back in 2003 that it has a "responsibility to protect". This is what it did successfully in Libya. But what is equally important, yet more difficult and lengthy to achieve, is to make our knowledge and resources fully available to our Arab partners until what were really Arab Awakenings can rightfully be called 'Arab Spring'.

The EPP Group Bureau will be discussing the aftermath of the Arab Spring at its Bureau meeting in Malta.

Watch the event live from 11.30 on Thursday 15 November.