Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Popular unrest and demonstrations have in a very short time resounded across much of the Arab world. Entrenched authoritarian regimes have been confronted by demands of largely unorganised citizens for change. In a region dominated since independence by the same leaders or elites this has been justifiably titled the Arab spring. The common overwhelming demand has been for change and a more democratic system in which the citizenry as a whole participates in political life and decisions. There are also strong underlying economic grievances at work fuelling these demands. While these are very positive developments, they are also full of potential risk. The outcome so far has ranged from substantial but not yet complete success in Tunisia and Egypt to bloody repression in Libya, an issue I will address in more detail in reply to other questions.

There has been a very large number of statements by the European Union, individual EU member states, the United States and others on these critical issues covering a wide range of countries. Overall reaction, while perhaps understandably a little hesitant at first, has generally been very supportive of the demands for change in the Arab world. High Representative Catherine Ashton, on behalf of the European Union, has spoken often and consistently, urging leaderships to respond to the legitimate demands of their citizens and resist recourse to repression. On 11 March the European Council explicitly called on Colonel Gadaffi to step down.

My own view is that we should provide the countries in question with strong and generous support in their transition to democracy, while at the same time respecting their autonomy. This historic juncture presents many opportunities as well as challenges and we should not fear to grasp them.

The European Union has long had as a key objective the promotion of our values of democracy and the rule of law in our nearest neighbours. My first meetings with EU colleagues have been dominated by our continuing response to these events. The Union believes that, while it is for Arab nations to decide their future direction, we should adapt our engagement with and support for the countries in question so as to support and encourage the transition now taking place.

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