EU 'must respond to world changes'

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg of Britain, a liberal Democrat, is to call for a European response to match dramatic political change in North Africa.

In a speech in Brussels he will set out why the European Union needs a radical rethink of its policy towards the region in the wake of popular uprisings which have already toppled leaders in Tunisia and Egypt and now threaten Colonel Gaddafi's regime in Libya. Mr Clegg says the EU cannot afford to stay neutral, and he intends to use his speech at the UK's EU ambassador's residence to warn that monumental change in North Africa is as much a defining moment of the EU as for the region itself.

In his prepared speech he says: "This is a precious moment of opportunity for the region. Precious because it is the people, especially the young people, who are speaking up, and they are doing so for the most part peacefully and with dignity.

Note EU-Digest: Mr.Glegg "hits the nail right on the head",  Europe has to "put its money where its mouth is", and stop sitting on its hands or be a US lapdog or anyone's lapdog for that matter. After all, this is Europe's backyard. If it goes up in flames, Europe will also get burned.


For more: The Press Association: EU 'must respond to world changes'