calls a "single European voice" in international negotiations are old, but the concrete developments of the idea are very recent. Summer 2010 saw the creation of effective service to the European External Action Service (EAS) headed by the unexpected British Ashton. The function of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs is to represent the EU internationally. The challenge was whether she will represent in lieu of or in addition to Member States. The answer is very clearly the second option - which is very informative on the diplomatic strategy of the EU, but also that of countries like France.
Objectives EEAS are twofold: " strengthen the voice of the EU worldwide " and " improve its impact on the ground . The first 6 months of exercise Ashton have not been conclusive so far. Inaudible on the crisis in Gaza, invisible to Haiti, although the EU will achieve concrete results in humanitarian terms (school construction, reconstruction assistance, relief), the initiative was clearly left to the Americans. Too bad, because the EU was definitely a not insignificant role to play, such as intermediary between Turkey and Israel at the time of rising tensions following the IDF assault on the fleet.
In his defense, the High Representative did not yet have structures, organization and networks tailored to the requirements of its missions. SEAE yet endorsed the ratification of the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, had not yet been established. The 29 ambassadors of the European Union, which will replace the delegations of the European Commission, will be appointed in mid-September. In the medium term will require about 3 years for all staff required to operate the EAS are minimal up by Poul Chrisoffersen, special adviser to Ms Ashton.
Parliamentary procedure, which is supposed to come into force on approval by EEAS Parliament has been difficult and painstaking. Many politicians, both right and left and all nationalities, did not appreciate the pressure exerted by Ashton and European capitals on the vote, which they perceived as a reduction of the sovereignty of EP report to the European Council (composed by Heads of State and Government). Or how remarked that European institutions have become the scene of a power struggle between two kinds of sovereignty (the National Council for supranational Parliament). It becomes clear that the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, he has made Europe a functional, has not settled the issue crucial to the future of political Europe. When
Ashton wrote in French newspaper Le Monde 30 July 2010, " Our goal is to make foreign policy in a modern way, differently and better. Not compete or duplicate what our Member States, but to seek to add value and play the power that is ours when we acting on behalf of the Union , "she said nothing concrete, or very little, unless you read between the lines: it will not exceed the member states which remain sovereign foreign policy.
Ashton wrote in French newspaper Le Monde 30 July 2010, " Our goal is to make foreign policy in a modern way, differently and better. Not compete or duplicate what our Member States, but to seek to add value and play the power that is ours when we acting on behalf of the Union , "she said nothing concrete, or very little, unless you read between the lines: it will not exceed the member states which remain sovereign foreign policy.
The EAS is not an organ of diplomatic initiative. is a tool to build consensus among different foreign policies of states and integrate more closely diplomacy. There is concern in these conditions that the effort will be provided to harmonize diplomatic choices of different European countries will be so much energy that will not be oriented to decision making and rapid initiatives on an international stage that requires yet more responsive than ever.
These are very clearly the national diplomatic networks that remain unavoidable. Older, more developed, more experienced. They remain the main tool of influence, not power, nation states of Europe in the world. The French diplomatic network, the world's second largest, is certainly older, sometimes dusty, but nevertheless essential as it is developed and implemented on all continents and will be a relay of all natural European foreign policy. But it is hard to imagine France, then delegate sovereignty to a supranational level is one of the latest tools of influence in the world, giving it a leading position in power relations within the EU.
These are very clearly the national diplomatic networks that remain unavoidable. Older, more developed, more experienced. They remain the main tool of influence, not power, nation states of Europe in the world. The French diplomatic network, the world's second largest, is certainly older, sometimes dusty, but nevertheless essential as it is developed and implemented on all continents and will be a relay of all natural European foreign policy. But it is hard to imagine France, then delegate sovereignty to a supranational level is one of the latest tools of influence in the world, giving it a leading position in power relations within the EU.
However, the EAS has much to do! Two examples: the "strategic partnerships" and Iran . Two critical issues in international relations of the next decade and for which national states in Europe, alone or scattered, may not be effective.
"A strategic partnership is to improve the political, diplomatic, economic, commercial and cultural relations with another key player in international relations, selected and targeted. In other words, with powers like the U.S., where China. The prototype of these strategic partnerships for Pakistan, with which the EU is currently reviewing all its relations following the humanitarian aid it provided to victims of recent floods. But look at the interests of EU Strategic Partnership / Chine.Pour develop strong relations with the Chinese giant, it will act as a European giant, that is to say as a whole economic, as a Union economic and monetary policy - and not in a myriad of states. It will also
a uniform policy on Iran . The EAS is there any sense. The diplomatic opportunity for the EU is enormous: the U.S. can not operate in Iran with whom diplomatic ties were severed formal and traditional. Especially, it is with the EU and the weapon of economic sanctions against Tehran may be most effective.
The sanctions imposed by Europe against Iran in July last go much further than those promulgated by the U.S. or the UN. They also have the ability - unlike the U.S. sanctions - to hit Iran's economy at a vulnerable point, which represents half of state revenues Iranian energy sector. By prohibiting investment, technical assistance and technology transfer to Iran, Europe is the regime of Ahmadinejad in a difficult position since, in somewhat modernized its refinery operations, it imports 43% of gasoline it consumes.
a uniform policy on Iran . The EAS is there any sense. The diplomatic opportunity for the EU is enormous: the U.S. can not operate in Iran with whom diplomatic ties were severed formal and traditional. Especially, it is with the EU and the weapon of economic sanctions against Tehran may be most effective.
The sanctions imposed by Europe against Iran in July last go much further than those promulgated by the U.S. or the UN. They also have the ability - unlike the U.S. sanctions - to hit Iran's economy at a vulnerable point, which represents half of state revenues Iranian energy sector. By prohibiting investment, technical assistance and technology transfer to Iran, Europe is the regime of Ahmadinejad in a difficult position since, in somewhat modernized its refinery operations, it imports 43% of gasoline it consumes.
You can not assess, for the moment, the potential impact of these sanctions. But it is clear that Europe can play a significant role in this matter, on which the United States are struggling. Provided she has the means to "speak with one voice."
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