The Entire Decision and Policy-Making Process in the European Union - Article Example

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE EUROPEAN FOREIGN POLICY All countries of the world have a defined set ofrule which govern the way the country is relating with its neighbors and other countries of the world. Where two or more countries within a region have a cordial relationship, the result is usually mutual benefit between and among its citizens. It is therefore important to point out that the countries that are involved in such integration have to formulate rules and policies which govern the way they are relation to each other. The set of rules which govern the way countries interact makes up its policies regarding foreign relations. The foreign policy of a country is made up of a series of strategies made and chosen in its own interest with an aim of safeguarding its national interests and attaining its overall within the international framework. The policies are made in such a way that they govern how the country interacts and transacts with other countries. Analysis of foreign policies enables a country to evaluate any benefits that are arising from its interaction with multinational cooperation. Every country’s foreign policies differs depending on the rates of transform and the extent of their intention to relate with other countries, which is largely affected by factors which alter the country’s projected national wellbeing . It is also able to have an effect on the general socio-political and economic stability of the particular country. On the same note, one country’s foreign policies can have a great influence on other countries that it is relating with. In general it is important that a country establishes its foreign policies in consideration of the impact it will have on its citizens as well as other countries in the same region and the entire world. Countries that exist in a certain economic integration are also known to establish different policies that govern how the union serves its members and other non-members. The European union is a practical example of such an integration with a wide range of foreign policies which govern bilateral and multilateral relations between member states and non-members. These policies have seen its members benefit from the relationship existing for a long time. Countries that exist in similar regions can decide to establish a union, depending on the existing ties among them, the EU’s integration was established by nation states from the European continent (Soetendorp, 1994, p. 64-5). The union has been very instrumental in the growth and development of the economic, social and political affairs of its members. The policies which govern this union have been influential not only to member states, but to all other countries of the world (Ginsberg, 1999, p. 430), this way it is evident that it has a great global influence. Member states of the European union can choose to invest in the its foreign policies and use it as a platform for exerting their global influence or alternatively (Lofthouese, & Long, 1996, p. 185), they can use it just to facilitate mutual initiatives in the event national or other important options appear to be less profitable. Member states do renew their membership into the union after certain determined periods of time (White, 2001, p. 50). However, before renewing their membership, the states are supposed to focus on the major areas that they feel; the union has been of much help. Policy making process of the European Union. The European Union policy making process requires the inputs from representatives of all the member states. Usually, the process of decision making about the policies that are relevant form the union follows a system that is described as being highly complex and varied in terms of its approach (Smith, 1999, p. 100). There are many decisions which have to be made; this means that there are several consultations that have to be made among all the relevant bodies that are presumed to be beneficial in the operations of the Union. The entire process if a blend of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism, in most case the balance of it is usually greatly disputed (Allen, & Smith, 1990, p. 20). The European Union comprises of many institutions and national stakeholders whose interests have to be incorporated in the entire decision and policy making process. It should be noted that the multi players in this process have differing roles and policy areas, something that clearly illustrates the complex nature of the whole process. In general the process can be termed as being multi-level in its true nature. In addition the speed at which the policies and decision will have to take is becoming highly differentiated. In order to have a clear picture of the entire process, a suitable criteria needs to be used so as to distinguish and develop a reliable continuous pattern of policy making. The criterion applied puts most emphasis on the following significant aspects; The degree of involvement of institutions that are independent of government; The decision-making rules in the council; The legal character of decisional outcomes. These three aspects of the criteria for policy making appear to be highly related, in this respect they are useful in establishing the three broad process that are used in arriving at the policies. The first method is referred to as the community method, and is founded on an institutional triangular framework where the role of policy headship is left to the commission itself. QMV is usually available from the Union’s council while the EP takes the authority of co-decision. It is imperative to understand that where the law is being made, it is subject to the jurisdiction of the Union’s court of Justice (ECJ). The second method is the one that integrates the cooperation of inter-governments, better known as Intergovernmental cooperation. In this method, the roles of the commission are insignificant; this means that it sufficiently lacks the exclusive initiation powers. The policy decisions that are arrived at in this method are not subject to the jurisdiction of ECJ. This method is only applicable where policy areas that are presumed to be highly sensitive, rising questions that have a bearing on sovereignty issues like defence, security, justice among other important issues. The following schematic diagram gives a general framework of policy making in the EU; The European Union Policy making process The third method which is employed in coming up with policies is commonly referred to as OMC (Open Method of Coordination). This method is fast gaining prominence in the policy making process. This method is usually applied where cooperation by intergovernments is assumed to be weak and lacking the much needed impetus while at the same time, there is a desire to preserve and maintain its independence. In this method, the Union’s players that are tasked with establishing of the policy goals use methods that are strictly non compulsive but instead, employ approaches that are seen to be quite “gentler.” In its initial stages, the method tries to synchronize member states’ national policies with soft law systems and methods like peer review techniques, use of benchmarking and league tables. Lately, there are studies that have emerged to try and explain complex nature of foreign policy as outlines the European Union using FPA (Foreign Policy Approach). In this understanding, it is evident that adapting FPA to EU which is a unique and integration creates no problems which cannot be separated. The only challenge is finding the best way to establish the linkage between the two separate entities. The term “European Foreign Policy” is taken to be a collection of all the international activities happening within the framework of European Union only (Hillb, 2002, p. 2-3). It also includes the output that arises from the two other important pillars of the European Union, which are also seen to be a beehive of activities that cannot be overlooked. Some people are of the view that EFP should encompass only three main forms; the foreign policy of member states, the overall external relations of the Union and its CFSP. Following this context, the EFP can be viewed as wide system that comprises of external relations or different systems of foreign policies where the above three aspects can effectively be differentiated for purposes of analysis. With reference to the European Union, the idea of having “common policy” brings about the existence of common interests from all the member states. However, the Treaty of European Union is important in creating a perfect distinction between areas that have common interests from members and other matters of universal interest where the member states are expected to make consultations among themselves. In this case, the issue of a common interest does not just come about automatically; rather, it is the result of an entire process involving prevailing over national interests that can be termed as being narrow in the interest of a common and shared interest. This universal awareness is usually the result of existence of universal standards which the union is fighting to establish, prop up and defend on the international arena. The first and key objective of the EU foreign policy is actually to take care of common values, basic interests of each of its members and the autonomy of the Union itself (Tonra, 2000, p. 165). The European Union employs its CFP (Common Foreign Policy) in order to project itself to the external; world, this is in a bid to respond to external challenges with respect to matters of universal interests and values. Therefore, CFP has to be the result of a common process of making decisions by applying a single institutional structure, which gives room for establishment and execution of foreign policy schemes using the community and CFSP standing in as third pillar mechanisms. The main strength of the European Union is derived from its prevailing structure. The coming into play of TEU (Treaty of the European Union) has seen the growth and development of international and lasting schemes directed towards the Union’s geographic locations (Rothgeb, 1995, p.33-48). They have also been instrumental in the monitoring and preservation of international peace and stability, not only in member states but in the entire world (Hilla, 2002, p. 5). The union’s foreign policy has been vital in the establishment of international trade and commerce as well as the proper functioning of the rule of law (Rugie, 1993, p. 145). In addition it presides over adherence to human rights as well as the basic freedom and rights of all people in the world (Bretherton, & Vogler, 1999, p. 57). In order to effectively pursue the above mentioned goals, the union uses three main instruments, that it; encouraging political and diplomatic dialogue, promotion and encouragement of free trade and support of regional integration among countries. These three instruments are very important since as they have lasting stabilising viewpoints. In general, the union has been very formidable since its inception, which does not neglect the fact that it faces challenges in its effective function (White, 1999, p. 40). For instance, the economic crisis that deeply affected most European countries hampered most of its activities, although that has not stopped it from reaching to its goals and objectives. As a matter of fact, it has increased its momentum in achieving world democracy (Churruca, 2000, p. 178). Bibliography Allen, D. & Smith. 1990 ‘Western Europe’s Presence in the Contemporary International Arena’, Review of International Studies vol 16 no1, pp. 19–37 Bretherton, C. & Vogler, J. 1999. The European Union as a Global Actor. Routledge, London and New York. Churruca, C., 2000. ‘Strengthening the Common Foreign and Security Policy: the European Council decision to assume the full range of conflict prevention and crisis management tasks, the Petersberg tasks’, Humanitäres Völkerrecht, vol 3, pp.176-186. Ginsberg, R. 1999. ‘Conceptualising the European Union as an International Actor: Narrowing the Theoretical Capability-Expectations Gap’, Journal of Common Market Studies vol 37 no3, pp. 429–54. Hilla, C.2002, Superstate or Superpower? The future of the European Union in world politics, EFPU Working Paper 2003/1, Viewed 28 March 2014. Hillb, C.,2002, Superstate or Superpower? The future of the European Union in world politics, EFPU Working Paper 2003/1, Viewed 28 March 2014. Lofthouese, A., and Long, D. 1996, "The European Union and the civilian model of foreign policy", Journal of European Integration, Vol 2 no3, pp.181-196 Rothgeb, J.M., 1995. "The Changing International Context for Foreign Policy. Foreign Policy Analysis: Continuity and Change in its Second Generation, V1; pp.33-48. Rugie, J.G. 1993. ‘Territoriality and Beyond: Problematizing Modernity in International Relations’, International Organization, vol 47 no1, pp. 143-144. Smith, K. E. 1999. The Making of EU Foreign Policy: The Case of Eastern Europe. Macmillan, London. Soetendorp, B. 1994. ‘The evolution of the EC/EU as a Single Foreign Policy Actor’, The EC and Changing Perspectives in Europe, Vol 3, pp. 61-83. Tonra, B. 2000 ‘Mapping EU Foreign Policy Studies’, Journal of European Public Policy Studies Vol 7 no1, pp. 163–9. White, B 1999. ‘The European Challenge to Foreign Policy Analysis’, European Journal of International Relations Vol 5 no1, pp. 37-66 White, B. 2001. Understanding European Foreign Policy. Houndmills, Palgrave, NY. Read More