In February, the European External Action Service (EEAS) posted an official representative in the Middle East and North Africa region to deliver EU policies and opinions in the Arabic language. This post is a real novelty for the EU and reflects the willingness of the bloc to enhance its communication with its southern neighbours in the terms they can understand.
Why? There are several reasons behind this decision:
1. Respect your Neighbour
The EU has been striving for years to build a solid partnership with our southern neighbours. Since the launch of the Barcelona Process in 1995, we have developed a strong relationship in a wide array of areas, from trade to rural development to cultural relations. The EU’s New Agenda for the Mediterranean, adopted this year, is meant to spur sustainable long-term socio-economic recovery and job creation in the Southern Neighbourhood, and will offer a platform to engage with partners on a wide host of issues from the promotion of human rights and democracy to security and development to migration. The EU is also deepening its ties with Arab countries beyond the Mediterranean basin, including Iraq, Yemen and the whole Gulf region. Our neighbours’ main language is Arabic. It is employed by officials, investors, artists, writers, and above all, by people of all walks of life. We believe that we have lots to gain by speaking our neighbours’ language as we consolidate and expand our relationship.