Product details
- Categories: December 2021, External Relations
- Publisher: John Harper Publishing
- ISBN: 9781838089856
- Publication Date: 25/10/2021
- Binding: Paperback
- Number of pages: 252
- Language: English
Summary
The EU has long aspired to play a role in world affairs commensurate with its status as an economic power, an ambition embodied in the common foreign and security policy (CFSP), the European External Action Service and a host of programmes, policies and mechanisms.
In this call to action, Renew Europe MEP Urmas Paet, who was Estonian foreign minister from 2005-2014, forensically examines the EU’s too-often ineffective performance in the face of a wide range of foreign policy challenges. Lack of consensus among the member states, slow decision-making, strategic confusion, poor engagement with potential partners and an absence of real conviction are constant themes.
The inescapable conclusion is that in foreign policy the EU, while a source of ceaseless pronouncements and declarations, remains a minor player in a world where Great Power politics have reasserted themselves – and a world in which systemic challenges to the western democratic model, from Russia, China and others have become more powerful than when the CFSP was initiated. Mr Paet’s theme is to learn from the past, not dwell on it, and to grasp the nettle to achieve a unified and effective strategy before it is too late. Bold, but realistic and pragmatic ambition must replace vague and ill-defined aspirations which produce nothing.
As he writes “It is simply no longer enough to stride around the world offering hope, values and a cheque book. The EU and its member states need … to prioritise and strategise, speak with one voice and with common goals, and do so with clarity and consistencyTable of contents
One: Cooperation, coherence, and conviction
This short introduction looks at the history of European foreign policy ambitions.
Two: Power and influence
From Covid to US isolationism, Beijing to Moscow, this chapter assesses
the current challenges facing the EU as it seeks to exert stronger
global influence.
Three: Reform and relevance
This chapter considers how structural weaknesses in the way the EU takes
decisions on foreign and security policy prevent it becoming a more
influential global power.
Four: Partnership and rivalry – the Chinese conundrum
The dilemma facing the EU as it tries to balance economic cooperation
with Beijing with growing concerns over security and human rights.
Five: Selective engagement – the Russian dilemma
This chapter looks at the opportunities and risks in engagement with
Russia and the threats posed to European unity by its member states’
unilateral engagement with Moscow.
Six: Rebuilding transatlantic trust
How can the EU and United States forge stronger relations after the damage caused during the Trump presidency?
Seven: Freezing conflict – the Arctic
Examining the EU’s strategy and presence in the High North, an area of increasing competition and tension between global powers.
Eight: Stabilising the neighbourhood
This chapter considers the effectiveness of the EU’s European
Neighbourhood Policy in terms of security, stability and reform of
countries to its east and south, as well as in the Balkans.
Nine: Defending the Union – European peace and security
This chapter examines the development of EU common defence policy,
relations with NATO, and the challenges of balancing national and shared
European security.
Ten: New threats – winning the information war
How can the EU work with global partners to tackle new and emerging
threats from disinformation and cyber warfare which risk European
security?
Eleven: The road ahead
This concluding chapter ties together all the strands considered in the
previous chapters and makes final recommendations for greater EU
influence in global affairs.