European Integration

University of New York in Prague

Unit XI. The External Relations

of the European Union

Oscar Hidalgo-Redondo

11.1 The European Union and Foreign Policy

EU lives in a paradox
is association of states establishing structures of
collaboration
to facilitate collaboration with ext. actors
to represent internationally member states
but member states resist to give up the foreign
representation
schizophrenic reaction
Struggle between
efficiency
"economy of scale"
stronger military force
economic might
prestige

protecting national sovereignty

national interest
governmental policies
independence
national idiosyncrasy

11.2 The Powers of the EU in Foreign Policy

Today foreign policy or external representation is a vague term
many areas could be considered to belong to foreign
policy
divide internal-external very blurred
internationalised economies
fluxes of capital and investment
mobility of citizens
information mobility

of

Foreign policy is more than just state representation

but all the initiatives related with the connection
two different societies

The EU is going to take part and assume

competencies
related with the representation of EU
citizens and
institutions

Two main areas for the external relations in terms of the

capability of the EU to represent
1. policies with sovereignty transferred to the EU
(supranationalism)
EU institutions decision is binding for the states
States cannot block decisions
external trade, tariffs, competition
2. Policies in which the sovereignty has been only
transferred to the EU
(intergovernmentalism)
EU institutions may take decisions
States keep the power to veto
Political relations, enlargement

partially

A clear evolution could be seen

the European Communities originally did not get
involved in the
external representation
to become an alternative to state diplomacy
parallel activity, coordination
to obtain autonomy in its activity
challenging member states foreign policy
to supremacy in the?

11.3 The External Economic Relations of the EU

Belong to the first group of policies
transferred to the IGO
sovereign decisions
Part of the I Pillar, European Communities in Maastricht
External trade relations
Relations EU-individual states
bilateral agreement
multilateral agreements
Some IGOs
EFTA
WTO
UN Programs and agencies
EU Commission carries out negotiation
1 voice
Negotiating in the name of the EU countries

Council of Ministers and European Parliament

ratification
Binding for all countries
Logic: states are not anymore competent
Result
1 voice
1 decision
Very strong negotiating power
but result of negotiation is not always satisfactory
for ALL
governments of EU

11.4 The External Political Relations of the EU

Foreign and Security Policies
a very difficult issue
linked to national interest
defence and security aspects
"only" national government can defend it well
Limited transference of sovereignty
states maintain the decisive vote
intergovernmentalism
any government can veto
But at the same time
efficiency issue
can EU states work successfully in international
relations on their own?

Idea of common defense and political cooperation

is very old (one of the aims that inspired the process of
European
integration)
European defense
no fights between Eu. armies
defense of European interests against third
parties
However, this is not easy to achieve
not to have army, vulnerability
not possible to defend nat. interest
needs high level of trust between partners

First attempt to create a common defence

1950s, European Community of Defence (1952)
European Political Community (1953)
Shift to NATO system
Western European Union (WEU)
1960s not big formal initiatives in this area
as in general happen with Eu. cooperation
informal contacts between government
establishment of "policy-nets"
preparing the field for future integration initiatives
1970 this informal cooperation is formalised but not institutionalised
European Political Cooperation
Davignon Report

European Political Cooperation

limited cooperation
unanimity
use of the institutional structure of ECs
Council of Ministers
outside the treaties
In the Single European Act (1986) similar situation
cooperation is mentioned
no institutional structures outside EPC and council
And then, 1989 and beyond
collapse of Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet bloc
German reunification
re-mapping the post-Soviet world
redefining neighbor relations
conflicts

Maastricht treaty defined the new role of the EU

changed the structure for cooperation in defence and foreign
policy
Maastricht established 3 policy pillars
1. European Communities
2. Common Foreign and Security Policy
3. Justice and Home Affairs
CFSP appears formally in a treaty of EU
Unanimity common position
QMV, implementation
but still not practical aspects
1992 Petersberg Tasks
Humanitarian action, Peacekeeping and Peacemaking
Western European Union into EU

But a failure, ineffective reaction

Amsterdam treaty(1997) increases the level of cooperation in
this area
Easier cooperation
Constructive abstention
QMV recognised as decision making procedure
but states could ask for unanimity
CFSP High representative
foreign affairs "minister, Javier Solana
Saint Malo summit (UK-France)
and Cologne European Council
need of adding real capacities
resources: military and logistic
political and military cooperation in EU

Following Amsterdam, teeth of CFSP appeared

1999 Helsinki, Rapid reaction force
50-60000 force
60 days
2000 Feira, 5000 civilian officers
Laeken 2001, EU peacekeeping duties
responsibility
Berlin Plus agreement
EU-NATO
European Security Strategy, 2003
European Defence Agency, 2004

Lisbon Treaty
from CFSP to Common Security and Defence Policy
High Representative, double hut: Commission and
Council
creation of the Foreign Affairs Council
2011 External Action Service, the European Diplomatic
Corps

11.4 The Formulation of the EU Foreign Policy

Several actors intervene in the process of decision making of the EU Foreign
Policy
Council of Ministers
High Representative for the CFSP
Commission
EU Parliament
Council of Ministers
Main actor: due to the intergovernmental nature of foreign policy processes of
cooperation within the EU
Council has been predominant institution
States keep the control over foreign policy
General affairs and Foreign Affairs Council
one of the most active
meet once a month
Informal meetings, or bi-tri-lateral meetings

Agreements after Amsterdam, QMV

unless a state asks for unanimity
Presidency of the Council: The High Representative for Foreign
Affairs and
Security policy
maximum representation of council
foreign representation of council
Troika
3 persons
last president of the council
current president of the council
next president of the council
more legitimacy
stronger negotiation power
continuity

Commission of the EU
Representation of the EU
External Action service and the EU "Embassies"
Accreditation to the EU
Negotiation of Agreements with foreign countries
Council and Parliament must agree
EU Parliament
Lisbon Treaty
Foreign Affairs committee
Budget

11.5 The Problems of EU foreign policy

Different interest: one or many?
what to defend?
is there a European interest?
Imperial tradition of some countries
France
UK
Portugal
The Netherlands
Spain
...
independence
Heterogeneity of countries
Fr., Uk. atomic powers
Neutral countries

Special influences in areas of the world

UK, commonwealth
France, Arab world, French Africa
Port., former colonies
Spain, Latin America
Other international organisations
UN, security council p-5
NATO
US
Speed
value of consensus
price of consensus