Mário David MEP exposed his views on the Commission Communication of last week, a 'New Response to a Changing Neighbourhood', considering it ambitious, sophisticated and feasible. This Communication took into consideration several of the European Parliament's proposals, however, it still needs proper funding, strong political will, more coherence and a synergetic approach, and immediate action to put into practice what is written in the Communication.

Mr David continued: "The EU should pursue a bottom-up approach, tailor made, increasing its support for institution-building, civil society and the will to start democratisation processes, in particular the participation of women, and socio-economic developments, which are preconditions for long-term stabilisation. By helping solve the economic problems of our neighbour partners in the south, we will also solve the migration problems."

As far as the revision of the European Neighbourhood Policy is concerned, Mário David regrets the fact that there aren't separate policies for both Eastern and Southern countries. "There must be a differentiation between the European countries which can formally join the EU after fulfilling the Copenhagen criteria, and 'the neighbours of Europe' - States which cannot join the EU owing to their geographical position', as stated in his Report.

"The EU must get involved with its Southern neighbours, not only as a payer but also as a player! We should take advantage of some of our Member States' long-lasting relationships with several Arab countries, from our privileged relations with the Palestinian Authority, which is a big receptor of EU external aid. But also from our traditional and friendly partnership relations with Israel", concluded Mário David.

Read the full intervention: http://ec.europa.eu/education/jean-monnet/doc/seminar11/david_en.pdf