The International Policy
of Europe
2004, Year of Europe
Luc de Barochez, Le Figaro
Coming into force in 1993, following the
Treaty of Maastricht, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union
(EU) aims to strengthen its own security and that of its members, democracy, peace and
international cooperation. By also adopting, in 1999, the European Security and Defence
Policy (ESDP), the EU has given itself the means to become a focal point of political
stability in the world in the service of an international order founded on respect for
law.
The accession of ten new States to the
European Union will change the status quo in the area of foreign and defence policy and
give it more weight on the international stage. With its 453 million inhabitants and
twenty-five member countries, Europe will become the world’s leading economic power.
But enlargement is going to have to be accompanied by an improvement in the
decision-making process, which is sometimes complex when national interests are involved.
This is why Europeans are paying particular attention to the functioning of their foreign
policy, the CFSP, and their defence policy, the ESDP*, making the Union capable of
intervening effectively outside its borders. In an uncertain world, Europe is well aware
that it cannot remain impotent and divided. This was one of the major motivations of the
Convention on the Future of Europe, instituted by the Laeken European Council in December
2001, for writing a European constitution.
One of the principal innovations of the draft
constitution is the creation of the post of European Minister of Foreign Affairs, who will
speak on behalf of the Twenty-Five. So when the American Secretary of State or the Head of
the Chinese Diplomatic Service wishes to talk to Europe, they will have a single
interlocutor. A scheme to create an embryo European headquarters to plan operations
independent of NATO is also in preparation.
Enlargement confronts Europe with new
challenges. By expanding its territory, the Union becomes closer to areas of crisis on its
Eastern frontier. The Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East are divided regions. At
the same time, it is incorporating countries emerging from half a century of Soviet
domination. For them, membership of the EU and NATO are two sides of the same coin,
belonging to the West.
The birth of "Greater Europe" is,
de facto, a success for the EU’s external policy. Indeed, it is incorporating States
profoundly changed by their determination to join. In little more than a decade, they have
moved from a government-controlled economy to a successful market system. This drive is
still at work in Romania and Bulgaria, as it is in Croatia and other States of the former
Yugoslavia. The States neighbouring the enlarged Union are asking for a close association
with it. For Russia and the Ukraine, and North African countries too, the Europeans will
have to find new instruments of cooperation.
The Birth of "Greater
Europe"
But the reunification of Europe after half a
century of cold war is already being accompanied by an unprecedented deepening of
cooperation in defence matters. The trend was initiated by France and Great Britain at the
Saint Malo bilateral summit in December 1998. A dynamic was created and Europe was able to
start implementing an independent defence and security policy, in order to assume
responsibility for the management of crises. For the first time the Union intervened not
only in its own immediate area but in Africa too. For instance, it set up a police
operation in Bosnia in January 2003 and, using NATO’s resources, a peacekeeping force
in Macedonia in March the same year.
In Summer 2003, it took an historic step by
launching its first entirely independent military operation, under French command, in
Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This operation was crowned with success, even
though limited in scope. The European soldiers have subsequently been replaced by a
contingent of UN blue berets.
The adoption of the European Constitution
represents an additional stage for the Europe of defence. The basic law of the Union
should permit a limited number of countries, wishing to advance more quickly than others,
to set up "structured cooperation schemes" to strengthen their security. An
armaments agency will be created, a prelude to a reinforcement of the Union’s
military capabilities and a rationalisation of its arms industry; for influence is also a
question of capabilities. Little by little, the Union is acquiring a diplomatic role
reflecting its economic weight. This is essential in order to defend European interests in
the world at large. "Europe power" is taking shape.
Special Assistance Funds
To meet its world responsibilities and
support its external action, the Union devotes one billion euros a month to aid projects
on the five continents. The TACIS (Technical Assistance to the Community of Independent
States), CARDS (Community Assistance for Reconstruction, Democratisation and
Stabilisation) and MEDA (a Euro-Mediterranean partnership programme) programmes are among
the vectors of this assistance.
Tacis: the principal instrument for
development of relations between the EU and the States of the former USSR, TACIS helps
these states move to a market economy and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
Donations total 3.14 billion euros for the 2000-2006 period.
Cards: this programme, endowed with 4.65
billion euros for the years 2000-2006, is designed for the Balkan countries. Its aim is to
encourage their reconstruction and to help refugees and displaced persons to return. It
also supports the market economy, democracy and Human Rights.
Meda: this partnership (5.35 billion euros
for the 2000-2006 period) permits the EU to provide financial and technical assistance to
the countries of the South Mediterranean.
Development support
The European Development Fund (EDF) is the
primary instrument of community aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific states (ACP), as
well as Overseas Countries and Territories. These are often former European colonies with
which the former colonial powers have retained close links. The EDF has several
instruments, notably non-refundable aid, risk capital and loans to the private sector. The
ninth EDF, which covers the years 2000-2005, is endowed with 13.5 billion euros, to which
are added the remaining balance of previous funds, which totals 9.9 billion euros.
(Label France Magazine, Embassy of
France, Kathmandu) |
