Translation of "Regional Bureau for Arab States " (English → French) :

C. whereas the European view of the Arab world is generally confined to an approach based on relations at bilateral or sub-regional level between states, and whereas the EU's overall strategy towards the Arab world should be revitalised not only by using existing regional organisations (the League of Arab States, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the ...[+++]Arab Maghreb Union, if it is revived), and existing tools and structures (Euromed, Meda Programme, association agreements, European Neighbourhood Policy), but also by strengthening support for non-state actors in the region,

3. Considers, in view of the inherent limitations of the bilateral, ad hoc strategies pursued by the EU towards its partner countries over the last few decades, that a fresh boost should be given – in the context of the rationalisation of the EU's external actions – to the partnership between the EU and its Member States on the one hand and the Arab world as a whole on the other, while targeting very specific cooperation sectors and acting in tandem with existing political structures such as the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council, and even with the Arab Ma ...[+++]ghreb Union, if it is revived; emphasises that engagement with civil society organisations and reform movements at the regional level should be part of this effort, as well as specific cooperation, in particular with those political organisations which promote democracy by non-violent means;

- Include discussion of relevant Horn of Africa issues in talks and contacts with key stakeholders in the wider African and Arab region, particularly Egypt, the Arab Gulf States, the League of Arab States and Central and East Africa.

This Communication translates the mutual interest and political will to generate regional stability and solidarity and is the product of high-level consultations that have taken place since then, involving all the IGAD countries and other interested regional players such as the League of Arab States and Egypt.

Emphasises once again the importance of making the handbook for the implementation of the Guidelines available to human rights defenders on the ground; encourages COHOM to disseminate translations of the European Union Guidelines for Human Rights Defenders in European Union languages that are the lingua franca in third countries and in key non-European Union languages amongst regional desks and embassies/delegations; welcomes the fact that, so far, translations are available in languages such as Russian, ...[+++]Arabic, Chinese and Farsi but stresses that more translations need to be produced locally; urges European Union Member States to simplify the issue of visas to human rights defenders who are invited to attend events organised within the European Union or who are fleeing worsening security conditions;

I would also like to draw to your attention, sir, that our committee was able to meet in New York last May with Dr. Rima Khalaf Hunaidi, director of the UN Development Programme's regional bureau of the Arab states, which produced last year the landmark Arab Human Development Report, the first of its kind undertaken by Arabs themselves.