European Integration University of New York in Prague Unit I. History of the European Integration I

European IntegrationUniversity of New York in Prague

Unit XI. The External Relations of the European Union

Oscar Hidalgo-Redondo

11.1 The European Union and Foreign PolicyEU lives in a paradoxis association of states establishing structures of collaboration to facilitate collaboration with ext. actorsto represent internationally member states

but member states resist to give up the foreign representationschizophrenic reaction

Struggle betweenefficiency"economy of scale"stronger military forceeconomic mightprestige

protecting national sovereigntynational interestgovernmental policiesindependencenational idiosyncrasy

11.2 The Powers of the EU in Foreign PolicyToday foreign policy or external representation is a vague termmany areas could be considered to belong to foreign policydivide internal-external very blurredinternationalised economiesfluxes of capital and investmentmobility of citizensinformation mobility

Foreign policy is more than just state representationbut all the initiatives related with the connection of 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 statesStates cannot block decisionsexternal trade, tariffs, competition

2. Policies in which the sovereignty has been only partially transferred to the EU(intergovernmentalism)

EU institutions may take decisionsStates keep the power to vetoPolitical relations, enlargement

A clear evolution could be seenthe European Communities originally did not get involved in the external representationto become an alternative to state diplomacyparallel activity, coordinationto obtain autonomy in its activitychallenging member states foreign policyto supremacy in the?

11.3 The External Economic Relations of the EUBelong to the first group of policiestransferred to the IGOsovereign decisions

Part of the I Pillar, European Communities in MaastrichtExternal trade relations

Relations EU-individual statesbilateral agreementmultilateral agreements

Some IGOsEFTAWTOUN Programs and agencies

EU Commission carries out negotiation1 voiceNegotiating in the name of the EU countries

Council of Ministers and European ParliamentratificationBinding for all countries

Logic: states are not anymore competent

Result1 voice1 decisionVery strong negotiating power

but result of negotiation is not always satisfactory for ALL governments of EU

11.4 The External Political Relations of the EUForeign and Security Policiesa very difficult issuelinked to national interestdefence and security aspects"only" national government can defend it well

Limited transference of sovereigntystates maintain the decisive voteintergovernmentalismany government can veto

But at the same timeefficiency issuecan EU states work successfully in international relations on their own?

Idea of common defense and political cooperationis very old (one of the aims that inspired the process of European integration)

European defenseno fights between Eu. armiesdefense of European interests against third parties

However, this is not easy to achievenot to have army, vulnerabilitynot possible to defend nat. interest

needs high level of trust between partners

First attempt to create a common defence1950s, European Community of Defence (1952) European Political Community (1953)

Shift to NATO systemWestern European Union (WEU)

1960s not big formal initiatives in this areaas in general happen with Eu. cooperation

informal contacts between governmentestablishment of "policy-nets"preparing the field for future integration initiatives

1970 this informal cooperation is formalised but not institutionalisedEuropean Political CooperationDavignon Report

European Political Cooperationlimited cooperationunanimityuse of the institutional structure of ECsCouncil of Ministersoutside the treaties

In the Single European Act (1986) similar situationcooperation is mentionedno institutional structures outside EPC and council

And then, 1989 and beyondcollapse of Berlin Wall and the dissolution of the Soviet blocGerman reunificationre-mapping the post-Soviet worldredefining neighbor relationsconflicts

Maastricht treaty defined the new role of the EUchanged the structure for cooperation in defence and foreign policy

Maastricht established 3 policy pillars1. European Communities2. Common Foreign and Security Policy3. Justice and Home AffairsCFSP appears formally in a treaty of EUUnanimity common positionQMV, implementation

but still not practical aspects

1992 Petersberg TasksHumanitarian action, Peacekeeping and PeacemakingWestern European Union into EU

But a failure, ineffective reaction

Amsterdam treaty(1997) increases the level of cooperation in this areaEasier cooperationConstructive abstention QMV recognised as decision making procedurebut states could ask for unanimityCFSP High representativeforeign affairs "minister, Javier Solana

Saint Malo summit (UK-France)and Cologne European Councilneed of adding real capacitiesresources: military and logisticpolitical and military cooperation in EU

Following Amsterdam, teeth of CFSP appeared1999 Helsinki, Rapid reaction force50-60000 force60 days2000 Feira, 5000 civilian officers

Laeken 2001, EU peacekeeping dutiesresponsibility

Berlin Plus agreementEU-NATO

European Security Strategy, 2003European Defence Agency, 2004

Lisbon Treatyfrom CFSP to Common Security and Defence PolicyHigh Representative, double hut: Commission and Councilcreation of the Foreign Affairs Council2011 External Action Service, the European Diplomatic Corps

11.4 The Formulation of the EU Foreign PolicySeveral actors intervene in the process of decision making of the EU Foreign Policy

Council of MinistersHigh Representative for the CFSPCommissionEU Parliament

Council of MinistersMain actor: due to the intergovernmental nature of foreign policy processes of cooperation within the EU

Council has been predominant institutionStates keep the control over foreign policy

General affairs and Foreign Affairs Councilone of the most activemeet once a month

Informal meetings, or bi-tri-lateral meetings

Agreements after Amsterdam, QMVunless a state asks for unanimity

Presidency of the Council: The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security policymaximum representation of councilforeign representation of council

Troika 3 personslast president of the councilcurrent president of the councilnext president of the council

more legitimacystronger negotiation powercontinuity

Commission of the EURepresentation of the EUExternal Action service and the EU "Embassies"Accreditation to the EUNegotiation of Agreements with foreign countriesCouncil and Parliament must agreeEU ParliamentLisbon TreatyForeign Affairs committeeBudget

11.5 The Problems of EU foreign policyDifferent interest: one or many?what to defend?is there a European interest?

Imperial tradition of some countriesFranceUKPortugalThe NetherlandsSpain...independence

Heterogeneity of countriesFr., Uk. atomic powersNeutral countries

Special influences in areas of the worldUK, commonwealthFrance, Arab world, French AfricaPort., former coloniesSpain, Latin America

Other international organisationsUN, security council p-5NATOUS

Speedvalue of consensusprice of consensus