European Parliament President Antonio Tajani on EU foreign affairs priorities 

"We want a stronger voice for Europe in the world, through economic diplomacy and the promotion of our values. Citizens expect a lot from us. They want the EU to protect them from global instability. The European Union has to fill in the leadership void on the international stage," stressed President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani in his opening address at the EU ambassadors Conference 2017.

“Last march in Rome we pledged to make Europe stronger on the global scene by developing existing partnerships and build new ones promoting stability and prosperity. We need to use all our tools, especially economic diplomacy and parliamentary diplomacy. We need to work in complementarity between all the European institutions and honour our commitments in the Rome declaration." said President Tajani.

"The world looks to us when a journalist is in jail, when a leader of the opposition is oppressed, when women are abused. We are a guiding light for human rights and democracy in the world. Our values are our call for a stronger voice for Europe in the world," added Tajani.

"We need to follow up on our values with concrete action. This is why I think we have to take measures against the undemocratic regime of Maduro in Venezuela."

"We must encourage investment and progress in the world. For this reason I am proposing a renewed partnership with Africa, including a significant financial assistance able to trigger a solid industrial base hence addressing the root causes of migration" concluded Tajani.

Editorial note:

The annual EU Ambassadors conference is taking place in Brussels from 28 August to 1 September. The European Union has a network of 140 EU Delegations and Offices around the world. The European Parliament is hosting an important leg of this conference on 29 August 2017. The Ambassadors will be welcomed by President Antonio Tajani, and will then participate in parallel working sessions. The purpose of the parliamentary leg of the conference is to provide an opportunity for the Ambassadors to discuss with Members of the European Parliament on the issues of particular interest to their respective regions.