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RECOMENDACIONES
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elections in July 2018. With respect to Mercosur, to reach a final agree-
ment it is necessary to keep up the political pressure while at the same
time retaining a flexible and patient approach to negotiations.
– In the Middle East, given the partial withdrawal of the USA and the
growing role of Russia, the EU must remain united and continue to
pursue an independent strategy. The nuclear pact with Iran must be
defended uncompromisingly; the EU must actively pursue an imagina-
tive solution to the Israel–Palestine conflict, continuing to reject Trump’s
decision to transfer the US Embassy to Jerusalem; and the civil, military,
financial, political and diplomatic presence of the EU and its Member
States in key countries such as Syria and Iraq should increase.
– With respect to Russia, Europe needs to be aware of the revisionist ambi-
tions of its eastern neighbour. And countries such as France and Germany
must strive to listen to the sensibilities of other EU states and offer guar-
antees for the security of Baltic and eastern European states within the
framework of the European defence project. At the same time, it is im-
portant to avoid demonizing the Putin regime – and even more so in the
wake of his latest election victory in March 2018, which consolidates his
position for another term. Instead, we must leave the door open to the
possibility of reaching a strategic understanding in the future.
– With regard to expansion, the EU must focus on two areas:
• The EU should not seek to compensate for Brexit by speeding up ac-
cess for new potentially problematic members where there are unre-
solved issues of economic reform, internal conflict and human rights.
The new strategy for the six western Balkan countries, launched by
the Commission and President Juncker, which sets 2025 as the incor-
poration date, should be modified to ensure that accession is condi-
tional and the process is subject to very strict monitoring.
• With respect to Turkey, the EU needs to shift towards a pragmatic
relationship, making efforts to open up diplomatic and political
channels to resolve specific issues – migration, Cyprus, Greece, the
Middle East – which may restore a better political climate in the
medium term.
– In Latin America, EU policy should favour the processes of economic
and political integration in that region. In Cuba, European action
should remain committed to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation
Agreement. And the EU should keep up the pressure on President
Maduro in Venezuela, with selective sanctions. But most important of
all is to continue to coordinate with regional diplomatic bodies (CELAC,
UNASUR).