"With this voting we really achieved a comprehensive, but also a coherent text, which will foster the EU relationship with its neighbours, both in the south and in the east of Europe. We are not ideologically, geographically or party driven. We are driven by an idea of a more efficient, fairer and, in fact, more "values driven" European Neighbourhood Policy", said Mário David MEP and EP Rapporteur of this dossier for the Southern dimension.

Mário David, Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries and Member of the Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean has stated that "Only greater involvement by local communities and authorities and civil society will ensure maximum effectiveness in implementing our Neighbourhood Policy. The idea is to "empower citizens" and all the civil society movements which are engaged in our values, supporting organized movements striving for positive democratic changes in their countries: in advancing women's and children's rights, building and deepening the democratic principles of freedom (of speech, association, religion, media, of choice, etc), fair elections or fighting corruption, the rule of law, greater social justice, respect for minorities, environmental protection and resource efficiency".

According to the Portuguese MEP, "The EU should pursue a bottom-up approach, a tailor made Neighbourhood Policy, 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." And concluded "By helping solving the economic problems of our neighbour partners in the south, we will also be solving the migration problems".

The Report will be voted in Plenary next December.

 Source: http://www.eppgroup.eu/press/showpr.asp?prcontroldoctypeid=1&prcontrolid=10800&prcontentid=18156&prcontentlg=en