The point of politics is to change things. Across the Middle East we are seeing lots of potentially positive changes: in Israel and the Palestinian territories, in Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt and several countries of the Gulf. We cannot speak yet of a uniform trend or a definitive breakthrough. But there is a new mood. Both as friends of the countries in the Middle East and as a union of democracies, the European Union applauds this progress towards democratic reform and political pluralism.

In the Middle East and elsewhere, democratic change is a long-term process that happens for a variety of reasons. Domestic, regional and international factors each play a role. To succeed, democratic movements have to be home-grown and adapted to local conditions. Each society must find its own path and move forward at its own pace. But outsiders can and should play a role. They can help create a context conducive to political change. Once change is under way, they can support and reward reformist forces.