1. Tomáš Weiss Department of West European Studies http://zes.fsv.cuni.cz
EU Foreign Action
Tomáš Weiss
Department of West European Studies

2. Programme of the lecture
Historical overview
Players, decision-making
Common Security and Defence Policy
Some problems of the CFSP
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

3. History of EU‘s foreign action
common foreign policy not as the primary goal
unsuccessful attempt in early 1950s
European Defence Community
foreign policy consultations out of necessity
European Political Cooperation (1970)
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

4. Maastricht – two regimes (pillars)
communitarian
trade, development aid, humanitarian aid, enlargement
important role of the Commission
intergovernmental
Common Foreign and Security Policy
primary role of the Council
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

5. Key actors huge reshuffle with the Lisbon Treaty
attempt to overcome the institutional barriers between the pillars through new institutions
High Representative of the Union for foreign affairs and security policy
Baroness Ashton (British)
several roles at once
chair of Foreign Affairs Council
vicepresident of the Commission
head of European External Action Service
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

6. Other actors European Commission Council European Council
several Commissioners dealing with foreign affairs
Development; Trade; International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response; Climate Action; Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy
and several others part-time: President; Energy; Environment etc.
Council
Presidency still active in General Affairs Council
development, trade, enlargement
European Council
permanent President – represents EU at his/her level
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

7. Decision-making in CFSP
as a rule unanimous
minor exceptions with QMV, but always veto
constructive abstention (Amsterdam)
Member States remain the most important actors
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

8. CFSP Instruments definition of strategic interests
by the European Council
principles and general guidelines
decisions on positions
define the approach of the EU to a particular matter
MS’s national policy should conform to the common positions
decisions on actions
address specific situations
always contain objective, scope, duration, means
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

9. Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) I
after 1998 – lessons of Bosnia and Kosovo
goal – autonomous operation capability
mission
humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking (Petersberg tasks)
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

10. Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) II
operations
military
BiH, Macedonia, DRC
police
BiH, Macedonia, Palestinian Territories, DRC
rule of law
Georgia, Iraq, Kosovo
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

11. 26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

12. Financial Matters in CFSP
administrative costs and non-military operation costs
covered by the Community
military operation costs
covered by participating MSs according to GNP
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

13. Problems of EU foreign action
institutional barriers
Council v. Commission
unclear at the moment with new institutions
capabilities – esp. CFSP problem (budget, R&D, planning)
efficiency
unanimity in CFSP, but
different traditions – neutral, post-colonial, …
different interests
no sanctions for non-compliance
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action

14. TIME FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, PLEASE
26 April 2010
EU Foreign Action