European Union's role worldwide: annual debate 1998, financing the CFSP and EC budget

The Committee adopted the report by its chairman Tom SPENCER (EPP, UK), which deals with the role of the EU in the world and the implementation of the common foreign security policy (CFSP) in 1998. Apart from giving an overview of the EU's dealings with the rest of the world, the report considers the creation of an effectively functioning CFSP to be an essential element in the maintenance of transatlantic and global stability and notes with approval the trend for European governments to shoulder their political responsibility on the continent. It welcomes the progress in the enlargement process and in particular the reactivation of Malta's application. It also expresses support for the EU's common strategies towards Russia, Ukraine, the Mediterranean region and the western Balkans, while pointing to the most significant problems in those regions. It calls for human rights to be on the agenda in all the EU's dealings with the external world and for this policy to be applied consistently. It goes on to underline the need for a European Security Identity and argues that the CFSP should develop into a comprehensive policy with strategic objectives. Attention should be paid to the proper financing of the CFSP and the report expresses the hope that the EU's visibility in this sphere will improve with the appointment of a CFSP High Representative. �