In spite of its record of failure the EU continues to try to develop a common foreign policy. Why?

Résumé du document

The European Union is often described as an "economical giant but political pigmy" . The Union is indeed the first commercial power in the world, but its political representation on the global stage is weak. From many points of view, the former attempts to develop a common foreign policy have failed. Not only were they unable to allow an efficient European intervention in crisis situations, but they also failed in creating an effective common policy. But new ideas still emerge to encourage a common external policy. What are the reasons for that? First of all, the failure of a European common foreign policy underlined several times that the EU actually needed such a policy. It needs it also because, facing a changing world, the EU has to tend to more political integration and to become a single actor in international relations. Between 1954, when the plan to create a European defence community came up against the French assembly vote, and 1969 in the Hague Summit, the European integration was only economical. The concept of a common foreign policy emerged in the 1970s when the EU began to take common positions on international issues such as the condemnation of the apartheid.

Extraits

[...] In spite of its record of failure the EU continues to try to develop a common foreign policy. Why? The European Union is often described as an “economical giant but political pigmy”[1]. The Union is indeed the first commercial power in the world, but its political representation on the global stage is weak. From many points of view, the former attempts to develop a common foreign policy have failed. Not only were they unable to allow an efficient European intervention in crisis situations, but they also failed in creating an effective common policy. [...]

[...] The committee of permanent representatives (COREPER), the political committee, the correspondents' groups, the working groups, and the general secretariat constitute its basic framework. But the common foreign policy is also influenced by the Council of ministers, the European Parliament, the Commission, and the embassies and delegations. We must also add the interested businesses, which participate to the foreign policy through direct foreign investments. Moreover, the external relations of the EU come under both the European community and the CFSP, which are not always well coordinated. All this prevent an efficient common foreign policy. [...]

[...] Zielonka, Jan “Constraints, Opportunities and Choice in European foreign policy”, in Paradoxes of European foreign policy. The Hague, Kluwer Law International. Tonra, Ben “Analysing European foreign and security policy”, in The Europeanization of national foreign policy. Aldershot, Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Edited by Dannreuther, Roland Dannreuther, Roland, “Introduction: setting the framework” and Wohlforth, William, transatlantic dimension”, in European Union foreign and security policy. Abingdon, Routledge. Nugent, Neil “External relations”, in The government and politics of the European Union. The European Union series. London, Macmillan Press Ltd. [...]

[...] The CFSP came after a lot of bilateral agreements or alliances, which are still up to date. For instance, the Elysée treaty signed between France and Germany in 1963 planned an eventual common defence. Moreover the division of powers between the EU and the member states are unclear. For Karen Smith, all these political factors constitute “hurdles” which prevent the Union from leading an efficient foreign policy[4]. But the most important hurdle may be the lack of real political will. [...]

[...] Op, p Paradoxes of European foreign policy. Op, p 9. quoted in The government and politics of the EU. Op, p 456 Mathieu, Jean-Luc politique étrangère et de sécurité commune” in L'Union européenne. Paris, Presses Universitaires de France. P 100 Edited by Dannreuther, Roland transatlantic dimension”, in European Union foreign and security policy. Abingdon, Routledge. P Paradoxes of European foreign policy. Op, p 5. Paradoxes of European foreign policy. Op, p.1 L'Union Européenne. [...]