Middle East experts to give evidence to Lords Committee investigating EU external affairs strategy
The House of Lords EU External Affairs Sub-Committee will take evidence from a former British Ambassador to Egypt as well as experts on the Middle East, on Thursday 15 October.
The Committee is holding the evidence session as part of its inquiry into the strategic review of the EU's foreign and security policy. The review is being carried out by the European Union's High Representative on Foreign Affairs, culminating with a new EU global strategy in 2016.
Giving evidence on Thursday are Professor Charles Tripp, from the School of Oriental and African Studies, James Watt CVO, former British Ambassador to Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt, and Imad Mesdoua, a political analyst from Africa Matters, specialising in Middle East and North Africa.
The Committee will examine what the EU's priorities in this region should be, and how they might form part of a new global strategy on foreign and security policy. It will look at Tunisia and Libya as two case studies for closer investigation.
The Committee will ask the witnesses a range of questions which will include:
- Is there a genuine political will amongst the Member States to undertake a strategic review of EU policies in the region?
- How joined-up are the EU actions in the region?
- What are the priorities in this region?
- Do Member States actions need to be better co-ordinated?
- In Tunisia, should the EU play a role in the future?
- In Libya, how has the 2011 military intervention affected the development of EU policy?
The evidence session will take place at 10.05am, on Thursday 15 October, in Committee Room 1 of the House of Lords.
