Les soulèvements dans certains countries bordering the Mediterranean and the Middle East are real challenges for Europe and the rest of the Western world, especially in regard to our policy of democratization. Two principles should underpin the work of the European Union in this field. We Europeans know how the road to freedom can be long and difficult. Throughout the twentieth century e , our progress towards liberal democracy has been chaotic and slow.
The EU itself has emerged from the ashes of several conflicts that have ravaged our continent and showed the consequences dramatic failure of democracy. If we add the mixed results of the European empires, it is clear that the EU needs to show humility vis-à-vis its partners. Of course this should not be a reason not to say that democracy is the necessary foundation of human progress.
Democracy does not consist only of the possibility of voting and elections. European history has taught us that we must build a democracy that is not front and a democracy that I describe as "deep" and requires several conditions: respect for the rule of law, freedom of expression, an independent judiciary and an impartial administration.
It also requires respect for property rights, including the courts, and by the existence of free trade unions. It can not be reduced to changes of governments, but requires both behavioral and institutional frameworks. In the long term, thin democracy - one that boils down to the free vote of the people to choose a government - can not survive if democracy "deep" is not rooted.
We have already begun to implement these principles in our work with the new government of Tunisia. This week, during his first trip abroad, Ounaïes Ahmed, the new Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Brussels to my invitation. I promised that the EU would support, much as it may, his country on the path chosen by the Tunisian people: one to a real democracy, reform and social justice. This support is not limited to organizing free and fair elections but it will also include the fight against corruption, improving transparency of local government and strengthening the independence of justice.
The EU has already increased its budget available to support civil society in Tunisia. We will soon send experts to Tunisia to assess the situation, and on this basis, we will adjust our assistance program to help people more directly. I'm sure it will be the first in a long series of missions.
In the short term, priority will be to advise the transitional authorities in electoral matters. Supporting civil society, we hope to have guarantees that free elections can be held and played consistently in the years to come, and not just on one occasion.
Similarly, the European Union will offer its full support to Egypt which will engage without delay in a real democratic transition. Egyptian leaders must meet the aspirations of their people. The time has come for a peaceful transformation. I asked the authorities to immediately begin the transition to genuine democratic reforms that will organizing free and fair elections.
In Egypt and Tunisia, the challenge is to build the foundations of a "deep democracy" here too, the EU stands ready to contribute.
We are witnessing profound changes in the Middle East. The contours are not yet clear, and indeed they may not even be. But we can build on some benchmarks. We know that the role of Turkey will be even more important, both as a partner in the European Union but also as a center for moderation democratic. We also know that rapid progress in the peace process in the Middle East are vital, now more than ever.
The EU does not wish to promote models or ready to give lessons on what should be the new political systems of our partners. It is the responsibility of the peoples of the region, not ours. But we must commit ourselves seriously to help in the short and long term. The European Union is perhaps not the best partner to undertake rapid, but it is often the one who stays the longest. We do not want to support regime change, but the system changes.
The "deep democracy" is the best, and certainly the only answer to those who fear that the repayment of tyranny leads to a populist anti-Western extremism is. The European experience teaches us that democracy is the necessary foundation for tolerance, peace and prosperity. North Africa and the Arab world, this goal is not reached quickly or without obstacles. But building a "deep democracy" is the necessary condition.
Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union She is also Vice-President of the European Commission
0 comments:
Post a Comment