Transforming Europe鈥檚 partnership with North Africa
European countries must "step up to the plate" to help North African countries such as Libya and Egypt achieve political reform.
In a , the Deputy PM said North African countries had created an 鈥渦nexpected and game-changing turn of events鈥� and called for a 鈥済ame-changing鈥� response to ensure greater freedom.
He set out why the European Union needs a radical rethink of its policy towards the region in the wake of the 鈥渂ravery鈥� of the popular uprisings.
Mr Clegg said the EU cannot afford to stay neutral, and used his speech at the UK鈥檚 EU ambassador鈥檚 residence to warn that monumental change in North Africa is as much a defining moment of the EU as for the region itself.
He said:
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.
皇冠体育appy are showing that there is more to politics in the region than the choice between repression and extremism.
It is precious, but potentially fragile too. 皇冠体育appre is no certainty about the outcome. This is why Europe must play its part.
皇冠体育app Deputy PM鈥檚 speech comes after sanctions were announced against Colonel Gaddafi鈥檚 family, including a freeze of assets and a travel ban.
皇冠体育app Prime Minister also announced today that the British Government will provide emergency evacuation flights to repatriate up to six thousand people stranded in Tunisia.
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