Will the EU get it right this time?

MEPs are calling for a total redraft of the EU's policy towards its southern neighbours and for all financial resources available to be devoted to promoting democracy in the region.

Mario Mauro, an Italian centre-right MEP, said that a new strategy had to be created as soon as possible to ensure the EU could get a grip over the changing political situation in the region and to support moves toward democracy.

“We can do a lot. We should clarify relations and we can give them privileged partnership relations,” he said.

Heidi Hautala, a Finnish Green MEP and chair of the Parliament's sub-committee on human rights, said that the EU had to come up with “a large-scale plan” that would not only promote democratic reforms but rebuild state institutions and rule of law, as well as creating jobs.

“The amounts offered so far by the EU do not come even close to what is needed,” she said. Hautala warned that if the EU does not come up with enough aid now, it could spell disaster for efforts to forge closer ties with the countries in the region.

Ioannis Kasoulides, a Cypriot centre-right MEP and a former foreign minister, said that the EU had to ensure any aid it now gives to Tunisia, Libya or Egypt would be linked to progress in democratic reforms. He said that money targeted to a country that fails to make progress on democratic standards should be shifted elsewhere.

The EU's response so far

Tunisia

President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali resigns (14 January); EU imposes restrictive measures (asset freezes, travel bans) against Ben Ali and associates (31 January); Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief, travels to Tunis, announces €17 million in immediate support to democratic transition (14 February).

Egypt

President Hosni Mubarak resigns (11 February); Ashton visits Cairo (22 February); currently “too early” for a support package as interim government still discussing priorities; EU foreign ministers expected to impose sanctions on former regime figures (21 March).

Libya

EU dispatches expert teams to borders with Tunisia and Egypt (23 February); co-ordinates use of member states' assets in evacuating EU nationals and transferring Egyptian migrant workers to Egypt through the Civil Protection Mechanism (from 23 February); imposes restrictive measures against Muammar Qaddafi and associates (arms embargo, asset freezes, travel bans) (28 February); provides €30m in humanitarian assistance (3 March); Kristalina Georgieva, European commissioner for humanitarian aid, visits Tunisian side of border (3 March); Agostino Miozzo, managing director for crisis co-ordination at European External Action Service, visits Tripoli on fact-finding mission (6-7 March).

Continued Challenges

Migration

Frontex, EU border agency, launches operation on Italian island of Lampedusa after the arrival of thousands of Tunisians (20 February); EU announces that up to €25m in emergency assistance might be available for refugees entering EU (2 March).

Financial assistance

Ongoing work to allow the European Investment Bank to increase lending in the region from €2.8bn in 2011-13 to €6bn; consultations on expanding lending by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to the region; Commission refocuses its neighbourhood aid of €4bn for 2011-13 (8 March).

Diplomacy

EU offers fast-track negotiations on ‘enhanced status' for Tunisia (14 February); Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council, convenes emergency meeting of EU leaders (1 March for 11 March); Ashton convenes emergency meeting of foreign ministers (3 March, for 10 March).