A Common Foreign and Security Policy - Essay Example

A Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) Established in the wake of the Second World War, the European Union (formerly the European Economic Community) is a supranational multilateral organization which generates an estimated 30% of the world’s total Gross Domestic Product. In addition to being an economic powerhouse, the European Union (EU) represents European integration in the political, judicial, social and economic spheres. Democracy, negotiation, and collective decision-making through multilateralism are all inherent attributes of the modern EU. The European Union, as an expression of its constituent members, represents the best of the European democratic tradition to the benefit of all member states (Warleigh 2004). Accordingly, the European Union continues to evolve, especially in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The institutional framework of the European Union is unique and this research paper will explore the development of a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in the wake of new challenges in the twenty-first century. What are the major challenges to the CFSP and can the EU successfully develop a Common Foreign and Security Policy? Seeking to address these questions and many more, the following will explore the viability of the CFSP in a united Europe which continues to expand towards the East. Begin with an analysis of the fall of the Soviet Union and the ramifications of this incredible fact on the EU. We then turn to an analysis of EU enlargement and explore the establishment of the CFSP in an enlarged European Union. Exploring the correlation between enlargement and the challenges associated with a Common Foreign and Security Policy, this essay will conclude with the reasons why an enlarged EU is problematic for the creation of a fully integrated CFSP. Process of Enlargement The European Union is presently in a process of enlargement, choosing to increase its membership and capabilities in response to new global realities in the post-Cold War and post-9/11 world. With respect to the EU, enlargement is eastward, towards the eastern fringes of Europe and the former satellite states of the Soviet Union. Enlargement in the post-Cold War world is likely to transform and fundamentally alter both the political and economic landscapes of modern Europe. Although NATO, another multilateral organization, expanded its base significantly following 9/11 and the European Union is also undergoing a process of expansion, it is fair to say that overall, European integration is a much slower process than the attainment of membership in the Atlantic Alliance. Ascension is how new membership into one of Europe’s most exclusive and sought-after multilateral organizations, the European Union, is described. Ascension is the process by which enlargement occurs and where new members are admitted into the EU club. Although the precursor to the European Union started out with only 6 states, there are now 27 member states – more countries are in the arduous ascension process to one day obtain full membership – and as a reflection of the diversity within a United Europe, there are presently 23 official languages of this multilateral body (Almond et al 2002; (Bereuter 2004). Collapse of the Soviet Union EU constituent states universally welcome the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent reform of Eastern and Central Europe. While praising the end of the socialist experiment on the shores of the continent and encouraging the full democratization of the former satellite states of the Soviet block, European Union policymakers also welcomed the collapse for a variety of other reasons. For EU policymakers and tacticians, Eastern Europe presented a series of opportunities. Newly embracing capitalism and the democratic ideals of the West, states of the former Soviet empire were, for EU policymakers, an emerging opportunity. Yes, Eastern and Central Europe represented growth for the EU. Growth in an organizational sense, but also more importantly an opportunity for growth in the economic sphere. Pressing initial concerns included the dismantling of the oppressive authoritarian state structures of the past but once that was complete, visionary members of the European Union saw an untapped resource and excellent opportunity for economic growth in the countries which had rid themselves of the last vestiges of communism. In this sense, Eastern and Central Europe were to become markets for goods produced in the West, workers from the East were thus conceived of as potential laborers in a transcontinental and integrated economy and the markets of Poland, Hungary, the Ukraine and the former states of the Yugoslav Federation were seen as potential homes for the soon-to-be minted Euro. Thus, in 2004 the European Union embraced members of the former Soviet block and began its biggest enlargement to date with the acceptance of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia into the Union (Malta and Cyprus also joined that year). Finally, on the first day of the New Year in 2007, Bulgaria and Romania became the newest members of the EU and Slovenia officially adopted the Euro as its national currency. The concept of opportunity, as characterized by future enlargement was how the European Union saw the collapse of the Soviet Union and the democratization of Eastern Europe. (Almond et al 2002). A Common Security Strategy In December of 2003, the European Council of the European Union adopted the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), a sober assessment of the security situation in the post 9/11 world and a proactive attempt to enhance international security. Understanding that EU member states face common security challenges and that the most dangerous threats facing Europe today are the same that the United States has had to confront post 9/11, the CFSP represents the most clear European strategy to combat global terrorism. Accordingly, this document makes explicit the transatlantic threats posed by international terrorists and necessitates an active role for the European Community in combating terrorism. Sadly, the Madrid bomb attacks (March 11 2004) and the London bombings (July 7 2005) respectively brought home just how real and sustained the terror threat is to the democracies of Europe. Understanding that Europe is not immune to attacks from Islamic fundamentalists and terror in general, the Common Foreign and Security Policy reaffirms the commitment of EU member states, in conjunction with their NATO allies, to work together in the spirit of global security. A major component of the CFSP is the need to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ensure forth righteously that these weapons do not land in the hands of terrorists bent on wreaking havoc on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, the adoption of the CFSP recognizes that failed states and regional conflict can also provide haven for terrorist and seeks to address these issues accordingly. The adoption of the Common Foreign and Security Policy clearly brings the European and North American perceptions of threat closer together and is “an immensely valuable contribution to the transatlantic security relationship” (Bereuter 2002) NATO is an important safeguard of transatlantic defence and during the 1990s, the most important issue facing the transatlantic defence community was the question of whether or not NATO would act outside of its traditional scope or sphere of operations and play a role in establishing security beyond the territory of its member states. Following the violent break-up of the Yugoslav Federation, the peace operation undertaken by NATO in Bosnia and Herzegovina forcefully demonstrated that NATO would act outside of its traditional sphere of operations to ensure that civil war on the periphery of its member states would not threaten the security of its European members nor those of the European Union. Later, the decision by NATO to send AWACS to patrol the skies of the United States that fateful morning of September 11, 2001, emphatically demonstrated that NATO would protect not only the skies of Europe but also North American ones as well. Accordingly, the decision by NATO to lead Afghanistan’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003 showed just how willing this organization, composed of Europeans and North Americans, is to confront and combat the threats of the world, wherever they may be. Stressing the importance of NATO’s role in Afghanistan, former NATO secretary general Lord Robertson stated “If we fail, we will find Afghanistan on all of our doorsteps…”. (Bereuter 2002) The European Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) works to unify the concerns of NATO with the challenges facing the European Union. In line with NATO’s engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the CFSP accepts preventative engagement and understands the need to be proactive in dealing with the threats of global terror. As long as terrorism continues to threaten both Europe and North America, NATO remains the primary institution through which common defence is provided. Although officially two separate organizations with differing mandates and agendas, the European Union and NATO actually have a complimentary relationship when it comes to security and securing North America and Europe from the threats of tomorrow. While mandated to protect its constituent members, the Atlantic Alliance, as was proven in the former Yugoslavia, can play a proactive role in preserving peace in Europe as well as abroad. Thus, an arm of the EU, the European Defence Agency, can work in tandem with NATO in ensuring peace and prosperity throughout the Atlantic region. From a pure security perspective, these two organizations now work to compliment and reinforce each other. Enlargement may pose significant challenges to the integration of foreign policy continent-wide. As new members are inducted each brings along a different set of policy prescriptions and foreign initiatives which may not cohere with that of a United Europe. These concerns are by no means mutually exclusive but as Europe continues to expand, most recently into Romania and Bulgaria, the opportunities for a united foreign policy seem to become smaller and smaller. It’s a basic law of numbers and as the community continues to grow, concerted action on a front as delicate as foreign policy will become less and less likely to bring to fruition. Concluding Remarks As a growing multilateral organization with increasing influence on the international stage, the European Union has established itself as a key player in the post-Cold War and post-9/11 world. The EU has sustained the collapse of state-sponsored communism in Europe and has remained resilient in the face of tremendous geopolitical chance. While reinventing itself in the post-Cold War world and integrating former members of the Soviet block into its ranks, the EU has demonstrated a strong and sustained trajectory for growth. Will the EU continue to expand eastward, perhaps into Serbia or even Turkey? That remains to be seen. However, by developing in line with its ideals, the European Union has shown strength and sustainability and will continue to grow, for the benefit of Europe as a whole. The full implementation of a CFSP may however be impeded by the enlargement process as each country which enters the EU has a very different conception of its foreign policy needs and concerns. Take Turkey for example. Straddling Asia and Europe, this predominately Muslim country faces a variety of domestic challenges not found on the shores of continental Europe and due to its internal makeup may look east for its allies and foreign policy partners. This is not to say that the full establishment of a common CFSP is impossible but continued expansion makes it more and more difficult to implement continent-wide. Bibliography Almond, G.A, Dalton, R.J & Powel Jr., G.B. European Politics Today, 2nd edition. New York: Longman, 2002. Bereuter, D. “NATO and the EU Security Strategy”. Oxford Journal on Good Governance, 1:1(2004), 21-27. Warleigh, A. European Union: The Basics. New York, Routledge, 2004. Wood, S. and Quaisser, W. The New European Union: Confronting the Challenges of Integration. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2008. Read More