Convention and CFSP[fr] 

Throughout its history, the European integration has largely focused on economic and trade integration. However, it has become increasingly evident that the EU as a major international economic player cannot continue as a 'political dwarf'. The grounds for political cooperation were first laid in the Single European Act of 1986, which formalised intergovernmental cooperation.

The Maastricht Treaty, which came into force in November 1993, inc orporated the objective of a "common foreign policy" for the first time. The Amsterdam Treaty, in force since 1999, devoted Articles 11 to 28 to the CFSP. This enables the EU to express its common voice on all international issues, from human rights to armed conflicts. The Amsterdam Treaty introduced the so-called 'constructive abstention' mechanism which makes provision for the protection of vital national interest whilst not hindering the remaining members from adopting a common position.

The Treaty of Amsterdam also introduced a new post of a High Representative for the CFSP, Mr Javier Solana Madariaga, who took up the post on 18 October 1999 for a period of five years.

The latest EU Treaty, the Treaty of Nice, which entered into force on 1 February 2003, contains new CFSP provisions. It increases the areas which fall under qualified majority voting and enhances the role of the Political and Security Committee in crisis management operations. The Treaty also provides the EU with a new

(ESDP) that covers all matters relating to its security.

The main instruments of the CFSP are

The Convention Working Group on External Action made the following recommendations in December 2002:

• current competencies in external action need not be revised;
• large majority in favour of one "European External Representative" (combining functions of High Representative and Relex Commissioner);
• establishment of External Action Council, distinct from General Affairs formation;
• focal point to be established within the Commission, possibly Vice-President;
• establishment of joint service (European External Action Service), composed of DG RELEX officials, Council secretariat officials and staff from national diplomatic services;
• creation of EU diplomatic academy and EU diplomatic service;
• majority in favour of maximum use of qualified majority voting on common foreign and security policy;
• high support for qualified majority voting in all areas of commercial policy;
• common foreign and security policy to have more financial resources.

 

joint actions , decisions and the conclusion of international agreements . Declarations and contacts with third countries also constitute the EU's common diplomatic tools.

 

Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania signed joint declarations expressing support for US military action against the Iraqi regime. France, Germany and Belgium are leading the anti-war coalition, insisting on a leading role for the UN in finding a solution for Iraq.

At their emergency Summit on 17 February, the leaders of the EU's 15 Member States agreed a "lowest common denominator" position on Iraq, which they confirmed at the Spring European Council in March, where the EU was essentially reduced to the role of a humanitarian organisation.

The determination of France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg to press ahead with their plans for a "core Europe" of countries who desire closer political union could weaken the EU. Britain, Spain and Italy as well as most Central Europeans are not likely to favour creating an 'advance party' within the EU, which would leave them in the outer circle.

The rift between the EU Member States has led the Chairman of the European Convention Valy Giscard d'Estaing to conclude that the 105-member Convention cannot address the issue of foreign policy as long as the situation is not clear.

Jacques Delors , former Commission president and head of the Paris-based think tank Notre Europe, believes that Europe is un likely to create a genuine common foreign policy in the next 20 years. He said in an interview with the Financial Times that the EU of 25 should rather concentrate on "quality of life" issues such as consolidating peace and mutual understanding, bolstering sustainable development and fostering Europe's diversity.

Simon Duke of the European Institute of Public Administration says that the Iraq crisis opened up the question what role the EU wishes to play in the international system. In his recent paper on EU foreign policy, entitled 'No common, no security, no policy and all foreign' , Dr. Duke stresses that "any definition of this role must consider the EU's relations with the US and the Union's contribution to global governance.

Over 70 percent of EU citizens support the Union's efforts towards creating a common security and foreign policy, according to a Eurobarometer poll , conducted between January and mid-February 2003. Support for a common foreign policy was found to be the lowest in Finland, Sweden and Britain, and the highest in Greece, Italy and Luxembourg. The findings of the poll were presented to Valy Giscard d'Estaing, president of the Convention on the future of Europe, who had requested regular polls on the subject.