And why not create an internal market in the Middle East, says Michel Barnier
(BRUSSELS2) Speaking to the Brussels Europe Press Club on Thursday (24 May), Michel Barnier, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market considered that the consolidation of democracy in Arab countries was a major challenge for Europe.
Their stability, our stability
Today, " the Egyptian people hold the keys to democracy in their hands ". But democracy this takes time he explains. It is a demanding exercise. And " Europe cannot just watch and encourage ". Because “The instability of this region is also our instability. We must therefore contribute to the stability of this region of the Near and Middle East ". " These democracies will be all the more solid that they will have growth, will be able to bring a future to young people. This also applies to all these countries, but also to the Palestinian State. "
An internal market, water management, an agricultural policy
And to develop an idea, that of building an internal market specific to the Middle East or Near East. " In these countries, it is necessary to build a market, remove barriers, facilitate trade... The Arab Spring allows this. What Europe has done can be an example. " With other laws, other methods because they are other traditions. But the important thing is to share. Pooling does not mean standardizing. » And beyond the creation of a common market in the Middle East, we could also be interested in other projects of common interest, " have water management, have a common agricultural policy, why not. “He also specified how much” Europe has no lessons to teach. But it can bring experience. »
In Africa too
This idea of an internal market might not only concern the countries of the Arab world or the Middle East. It could also find application in Africa explains the commissioner. " I spoke recently with the leaders of the African Union in Addis Ababa. Africa is an exciting, difficult, immense continent. We will not be able to create a single market for all of Africa right away. But we can make regional economic markets: for North Africa, for East Africa and for West Africa. It is undoubtedly in this region, with ECOWAS, that it is probably the most advanced. “There again, he adds” Europe must support these regimes, must help these countries. there is a chance for these countries to bring these common markets together. »