Ways in Which the Common Foreign and Security Policy Affects the EU Member States - Research Paper Example

 Areas in which the foreign policy, of the 2nd Pillar of the EU (the Common Foreign and Security Policy) can bring the EU member states' positions on main issues of international politics closer Ways in Which the Common Foreign and Security Policy Affects the EU Member States` Introduction The European Union (EU) was formed in 1958 by six member states mandated to handle matters related to the economic and political union of the member states. There were twenty seven member states based in Europe; however the number has currently grown. It operates on independent institutions, among them being the European Commission, Council of the European Union, and European Council among others. It has a standardized system of laws which applies to all the member states with a single market. The European Union’s common foreign and security policies have in many ways affected the positions of the member states on main issues of international politics. This paper discusses the various foreign and security policies of the European Union and areas in which they have brought the member states` positions on the main issue of international politics closer. The Common Foreign and Security Policy Foreign policy encompasses the goals pursued, decisions made and actions taken by sovereign states in dealing with other states. The Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (CFSP) (also known as the second pillar of the EU) came into force in 1993 through the Maastricht Treaty due to the need for economic and political integration to ensure that there was collective security in the EU after the World War II in Europe (Cameron 1999 p.32-39). The CFSP, basically, is a foreign policy agreed to by members of the European Union with a focus on the security and diplomatic actions. The CFSP is concerned not with the entire external relations of the European Union but rather with aspects of international relations such as Trade and Commercial Policy and funding of non-member states (Keukeleire 2008). In other words, the common policy was mainly established to deal with matters to do with security and defense issues in order to protect the member states from external aggression. The vision behind the adoption of a common foreign and security policy was to provide an atmosphere where individual states could share their sovereignty in peace. The Amsterdam Treaty that came into force in 1999 was an improvement on the initial CFSP. The treaty saw the EU establish different institutions mandated to perform different functions within the EU as noted by Cameron (1999 p. 33). This would ultimately improve the relations between the European nations’ political, social and economic environments. Challenges Facing the EU in respect of Foreign Policy and Security Beyond doubt, each country or state in the world has its interests, some of which may be quite different from the interests of other countries or states. There are a number of issues that cause countries to maintain different policies when dealing with other states. Trade, energy and security interests feature top among these issues. With respect to the European Union, two factors have continued to necessitate integration in the making of foreign policy; systemic changes in the international scene that have continued to occur since 1989, and the evolution of the process of integration in Europe (Keukeleire 2008). One major issue that is common with the development of foreign policy is the fact that it is normally assumed to be the responsibility of individual states and national governments. As such, one major concern that the EU faces is that deepening cooperation in the development of foreign policy may negatively affect the competencies and sovereignty of member states. Better stated, when the EU gains at the supranational level in so far as foreign policy is concerned, the member states tend to lose their competencies at the national level (Keukeleire 2008). With the cold war in place for example, various states would find themselves at a loss by offering so much to the Union without any assurance that other participants in the cold war would follow suit. It may be assumed therefore that this is the very reason that has made the process of integrating the different foreign policies of member states to come up with common policies extremely slow and mainly intergovernmental. Europe as a block has been faced with tensions, especially, between the inter-governmetalists and the federalists. Member states of the EU have also maintained divergent views regarding the role of the union in matters related to foreign relations and security. The adoption of common policies in relation to security and foreign relations must be based on collective interests – interests. Some of the tools that have been most useful in the achievement of CFSP goals include trade agreements, enlargement, financial aid packages and association agreements (Keukeleire 2008). The application of these tools in the resolution of problems and decision making has by far demonstrated that the EU, through the second pillar, is keen on applying its civilian power as opposed to hard power. Impact of the CFSP on the Relationship between EU Member States The CFSP was mainly formed to be a tool for declaring issues related to foreign policy, and therefore represent the European Union as opposed to individual member states. As such, whenever the CFSP comes in view, two points come to the fore; one, that the member states act jointly, and two, that the states assume common positions. Whenever the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), which is charged with the responsibility of playing certain important roles with respect to the CFSP, is dealing with third parties, it ensures that the European Union’s foreign policy aims are advanced (Keukeleire 2008). Through adopting common positions, the EU has established systematic cooperation among member states in conducting daily activities. Furthermore, through joint actions, the states get to act together in harmony and in a well coordinated manner. Indeed the EU has managed to assert its identity and existence across national borders in line with the European Union Treaty. One main event that marked the turning point for the CFSP was the Balkans crisis. The crisis highlighted the fact that EU member countries may assume different positions and unified voices with respect to foreign policy. The EU also came to accept the fact that beyond developing a defense and security policy, it needed a military body. The events of 9/11 also saw the adoption of new notions in line with the CFSP. The EU member states realized that terrorism was a major threat to each individual country and to the Union as a body. In 2002 and 2003, the EU made two significant developments. In the Seville European Council held in 2002, all Union policies were embraced, the CFSP being accepted to play a major role in countering threats that may be directed toward the Union. In 2003, the EU Council identified the proliferation of mass destruction weapons, terrorism, illegitimate drug trafficking and the illegal trafficking of people as main security concerns. EU Defense and NATO The 2nd pillar of the European Union has helped bring closer the political positions of the EU member states by ensuring that a political and Security Committee is established to monitor the international issues to do with politics and security issues. This led to the establishment of NATO to handle matters to do with external security among its member states. Security was a major threat to the peaceful coexistence between member states before the establishment of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, where most nations in most cases could not agree on major political issues. World War II for example came into being due to the fact that different nations like Germany and Russia among other nations held divergent political positions that lead to the war. The end of the World War II therefore, necessitated the establishment of the 2nd pillar policy to bring different EU member States closer by establishing a common policy for all member states (Cameron, 1999). NATO is a defense force established under the European Union treaty where each member state is expected to produce soldiers to help in the maintenance of peace and security in the world and among different EU member states. It was formed after the end of World War II where the EU found it necessary to form a common defiance force as a way of easing tension between different states. Its mandate is to ensure that peace is maintained and civilians are not harassed in case of war in any country in the world. NATO was used by the EU to maintain peace in Libya during the Civilian uprising to remove President Mohammad Gadaffi from power in 2011. It therefore took part only to protect the civilians from being killed by the Gadaffi loyal forces. In this way NATO has brought many countries together on both political and security matters ( Eckes, & Konstadinides 2011). Nonaggression Policy of the EU The European Union has improved the political ties between its member states by ensuring that a policy is established that bars its member states from initiating any hostilities between different nations. The nonaggression policy has ensured that different European member states coexist peacefully. The policy has seen the political relation between Germany and the Soviet Union including Russia improved tremendously since the end of Second World War. It also helped strengthen business and trade between nations which were initially hostile to each other before the establishment of the policy (Rubinstein 1972 p.141). Energy 2020 policy of the EU Energy supply is the greatest challenge facing European nations to day. This has affected the security and increased competition for the limited resource between EU member countries. Most of the European countries depend on energy imported from other countries in the world such as Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt and other oil producing countries. To mitigate the effects of energy shortage among the EU countries, the EU decided to develop a policy known as the “Energy 2020 Strategy” that establishes energy priorities for the future and the cause of action to overcome energy shortage. The energy policy is meant to ensure that there is improved energy security and competitiveness and reduction of emission to the environment that has been the major contributor of global warning in the world. The strategy is also meant to keep the cost of energy down for its member states. To improve international relations, The EU provides Serbia a member state of EU with oil as part of their mission in developing international political leadership to its member countries (Ginsberg 2001 p. 252) The EU through its foreign policy ensures that the member states and businesses abide by the European Union’s rules on fair competition, but allows for innovation and development. Through fair competition, high quality goods and services would be given to the customers who would be having different choices to choose from resulting in a reduction in prices. Under the policy, the EU restricts business operations for its member state in order to improve ties between these member states. It restricts businesses from fixing there prices, and are not allowed to merge if this is seen to jeopardize the market dominance. This restriction have been met with controversies, however its benefits to the EU nations are high, since it offer conducive environment for business and international relations to thrive. Economic and monetary foreign policy of the EU The EU has an economic and monetary policy that guides the financial affairs of its member states. These policies are meant to assist the EU in acting swiftly when faced with challenges of financial crisis. This has seen about seventeen European countries pushing for the adoption of Euro as their currency. The adoption of Euro as a common currency for these EU member states has increased trade and multilateral corporation between the EU and the rest of the world. It also make it easier for the EU to intervene faster to any global financial crises in a more coordinated way to ensure that stability is restored as opposed to where currencies differ from one member countries to another. It also leads to the opening up of the market for different countries and this improves the economies of these countries (McNamara 1998). The EU has also ensured that an economic policy for its member states is established known as the Economic Monetary Union (EMU). It is a body established to ensure that all the EU member states agree on a common course on issues that affect the economy of these nations (McNamara 1998). Once the major issues have been established, they consider the most viable cause of action to apply in order to remedy the situation. These in most cases have led to the creation of job opportunities to the member countries resulting in a higher level of social and economical welfare for all the EU member countries. Climate change caused by the effects of global warning has been a major issue that the EU has been grasping with in an attempt to introduce those activities that are environmental friendly. Global warming is mainly caused by gaseous emissions from industries. However, attempts to mitigate these effects have in most cases been met with fears resistance from countries like the United States and China which brand these actions political. Europe for example has been majorly affected by the effects of climate change. This has seen an increase in temperature, and the unpredictable change in the rainfall patterns, rise in sea level and the melting of glaciers. All this are contributed by the change in environment. To avoid causing political wars, the EU has developed a policy that cuts down the green house emissions to its member countries. This has seen the EU member countries offering to reduce its emissions 30% and is encouraging other nations that emit a lot of gases to follow suit. This has improved cordial relations between different EU member countries and they come together with the common agenda of doing away with the gaseous emission that pose a threat to the environment. EU Citizenship Policy One area that has faced a lot of political cripple among the EU member states is the EU citizenship. Any person who is a member of the twenty seven EU becomes an automatic citizen of the EU. The individual has the right to take part in the political elections for the European parliament in whichever European Union country one comes from. It also guarantees the EU citizens consular protection when one is in a non-EU nation and needs some help. This has helped many citizens of the EU member states, and as result improved relations between different nations. The EU through the Europe for Citizens Programme has established many initiatives such as ensuring that democracy thrive in EU member states by encouraging dialogue as the best way of solving conflicts between different EU countries and non-members of the EU. These initiatives have lead to the peaceful coexistence between EU member states and the countries (Hanagan & Tilly 1999). Regional Policy of the European Union There has been wide difference in regional development among the EU member countries with some member countries being poorer than others. The regional inequalities were mainly caused by social and economic challenges, handicaps caused by geographical remoteness in different countries. These resulted in the formation of a regional policy for the European community to bring up the living standards of the EU member countries to an average level. The policy is also meant to improve the regions that were poor to achieve their full potentials by ensuring that employment opportunities are created at regional levels. This has helped boost the economies of most EU member states like the Bulgaria one of the EU member countries now on the development track due to the intervention of the EU. Justice, Freedom and Security policy of the EU The EU is in the process of creating a policy that recognizes the security and justice to all its member states. It spells out all the fundamental rights like political, civil, economical and social rights of all the EU citizens. This right encourages mobility of labor and man power between different states. The exchange of labor and resources between different EU member states has led to growth in economy and has improved ties between EU member countries fostering peace and security among different nations (Lindstrom 2005 p.111-230). As part of security policy, the EU has established ways of managing asylum and immigration. Since many people were entering the Union to escape persecution, war, natural disasters in search for a better future, the EU decided to initial policies that govern immigration by setting out the principles that govern the European Union laws (Lindstrom 2005). These laws were to encourage integration among different EU countries and creating an effective boarder to allow those escaping from war torn areas to move into the EU member states with ease. However, the union is also trying to stop illegal immigration into the EU member states as these in most cases have created diplomatic problems among different EU states. In conclusion, the various foreign policies of the European Union were instituted to assist in fostering peace and security among different member states of the European countries. It has also come out that some were established to ensure that citizens of these nations are empowered politically, economically and socially. It also recognizes the basic fundamental human right through its policy on justice, freedom and security. Conclusion The European Union, through its Common Foreign and Security Policy, has improved relations between its member states by ensuring that there is development and corporation amongst them. It has been established that more than half of the money spent to help the poor and destitute comes from the European Union and its member states. This is because of the goodwill and favorable political relations that exist between the member states. In fact, the European Union today is known to be the World’s largest donor. The CFSP has also seen the opening of markets and realisation of favourable trading environments between the Union members and non-members. The EU, through the CFSP has noted a number of security issues that affect it and the world at large. Although various nation members of the EU have their individual opinions regarding how they relate with other countries, the CFSP has created a level ground upon which decisions are jointly made through thorough deliberations and consensus. The decisions made jointly by the committee that represents each EU member state are based on professional opinions which are directed toward the benefit of the EU and, in many cases, the rest of the world. References Cameron F, 1999 The foreign and security policy of the European Union: past, present and   Future, Shefield Academic Press, King field Road, Shefield, England Eckes, C & Konstadinides T, 2011, Crime Within the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice: A European Union Policy. Ginsberg R H 2001The European Union in international politics: baptism by fire, Rowman & Littlefield publishers, Boston way, Lanham, Maryland, USA Keukeleire S, 2008. The foreign policy of the EU: Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Lindstrom C, 2005, European Union policy on asylum and immigration. Addressing the root causes of forced migration: A justice and home affairs policy of freedom, security and Justice? Social Policy & Administration. McNamara KR 1998, The currency of ideas: monetary politics in the European Union, Cambrige Univ. Press. England. Read More