Arabische Liga neemt Europese Unie als model voor toekomstige samenwerking (en)

The European Union is not alone in reforming its institutions. The Arab League is also changing the way its members co-operate and is looking toward the European Union for answers.

Yemen's President, Ali Abd Allah Salih is calling for the Cairo-based body to be replaced with an Arab Union which he says would boost effectiveness on the world stage.

At 22 members and with minimal integration the League has struggled to make its voice heard outside its own region.

According to Al-Jazeera, the President wants EU-inspired reforms in order to "develop common Arab action with a view to giving international and regional weight to Arab countries".

But in spite of decades of pan-Arab rhetoric, few leaders in the region are likely to be willing to cede power to such a degree.

"If our (Arab) brothers have reservations or consider that proclaiming a union would be premature, we are prepared to present other serious proposals or study the proposals of every other party".

The debate would not be out of place in Brussels.

A founder member of the League, with less diplomatic clout than its neighbours - most notably Saudi Arabia and Egypt - Yemen's drive for integration could at times be compared to that of Belgium's.