New Federal Trust report says EU needs coherent external policy

8.35.00am GMT Sun 22nd Mar 2009

According to the report, Europe risks both failing properly to address major global challenges and embrace rare opportunities unless it implements effective structural reforms. The report by Federal Trust, 'A More Coherent and Effective European Foreign Policy?' (see link below), argues that at present there is a lack of leadership in the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP); and that this position must be improved regardless of the fate of the Lisbon Treaty.

The author of the report, Professor Richard Whitman of Bath University, said: 'There are many challenges in the world today ­ including the global economic crisis, concern over climate change and the threat of international terrorism, which EU member states can properly address only by acting together. The opportunity for fresh thinking on these issues presented by the Obama presidency in the US urgently requires coordinated activity at EU level. Unfortunately, while member states recognise the need for collective action on the international stage, the EU lacks the institutional structures needed to make it possible. As a consequence policy often tends to be muddled, as we have seen recently with disagreement over the approach to be taken to Russia.'

'Contained in the yet-to-be implemented Lisbon Treaty are measures which could in some respects improve this state of affairs. It would create a High Representative of the Union for Foreign and Security Policy, to be supported by a new External Action Service. Potentially this High Representative could become a key political figure and the main "face" of the EU in the world, providing the coherence that is needed. The External Action Service could, as well as assisting the High Representative, facilitate consensus-building, information sharing and common analysis across the EU and enhance its external representation.'

The Director of the Federal Trust, Brendan Donnelly, added:

'In the Lisbon Treaty are measures which could in important respects bring about improvements. It would in particular reinforce the role of the Union's High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, with the High Representative's being supported by a new External Action Service. This High Representative could become a key political figure and the main "face" of the EU in the world, providing the coherence that is needed. The External Action Service could, as well as assisting the High Representative, facilitate consensus-building, information sharing and common analysis across the EU, while enhancing its external representation.

'But there are worrying ambiguities in the Treaty. It is not clear how far the High Representative will be pre-eminent within external policy. If Lisbon is ratified by Ireland, this lack of clear delineation of responsibility will need to be addressed. If Lisbon is killed off, member states will need urgently to consider how they can establish mechanisms for a more coordinated global policy by other means. '

The report can be read in full at: http://www.fedtrust.co.uk/admin/uploads/EU_Foreign_Policy.pdf

Notes:

The European Security Strategy (ESS) identifies five 'key threats': (1) terrorism (2) proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (3) regional conflicts (4) state failure and (5) organised crime. Other problems identified by the ESS include poverty, disease, competition for scarce resources, and migratory movements; climate change; energy security; cybercrime; and piracy (The Federal Trust)

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