Foreign Policy of the EU: Central Concepts, Documents, and Institutions

Since Treaties of Lisbon 2009 (Art. 218 TFEU) veto power on all int. agreements by simple majority (e.g., failure of TTIP), however no involvement ex ante; Parliament is involved in budget approval and can influence budget categories that are previsioned for Foreign Policy

consistency does not necessarily lead to effctiveness -> depends on international opportunity structure: the setting of negotations (number of participants, constellation of interests, whether EU is at demanding side): esp. in broader multilateral settings, constructive ambiguity (demonstrate not too much unity) might prove more effective

consistency between different policy areas (the four facets); wish for "integrated approach"

consistency between what the different institutions are doing (and inside institutions, e.g. between different DGs); creation of HR/VP was sparked by the wish to counter inter-institutional consistency

between EU and domestic levels (what EU is doing versus what MS are doing) -> EU FP non-exclusive, MS maintain their own FP

between what the different MS are doing

defining the general guidelines; and by strengthening systematic cooperation between Member States in the conduct of policy; adopting decision defining - actions and positions to be undertaken by the Union

Common external tariff (decreasing importance since GATT, WTO); antidumping measures; Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Generalized Scheme of Preferences; EEA with NOR, LIE, ISL; Customs Union; Association Agreements (free trade area + political component, typical neighbourhood policy tool); Free trade agreements

Historically EU has been big supporter of Multilateralism, EU itself as laboratrium for multilateralism, including for trade. Hence, always preference to advance WTO tariff rounds, but they are dead since Doha 2001.

basic principle of the WTO, requires member to extend the same trade terms to all WTO members

introduced 2004, aim: concurrently deploy two Battlegroups of at least 1,500 troops (single state or a group); only exist on paper (never employed until now) despite calls to employ by public; no financial solidarity mechanism

bilateral agreement between the EU and a third country; part of/preliminary stage to accession agreement (e.g. Turkey has one)

Types of missions and operations included in CSDP: joint disarmament operations, humanitarian and rescue tasks, military advice and assistance tasks, conflicts prevention, peace-keeping tasks, tasks of combat forces, peace-making and post-conflict stabilisation

1993; establishes CFSP under Title V; establishes three pillar structure (EEC, CFSP, PJCC); based on Franco-German deal after Germany's reunification: stronger Germany embedded in a stronger Europe --> internal objective (interrelational);

1998; UK (Blair) & FR (Mitterrand) argue for European "capacity for autonomous action, backed up by credible military forces, the means to decide to use them, and a readiness to do so, in order to respond to international crises’ -> kicking off CSDP

2007; strengthened institutionalisation of common EU FP: creation of HR/VP & EEAS; international legal personality for the EU; abolishment of Maastricht three pillar structure; establishes EU competences on energy, space policy

formally adopted in Maastricht Treaty 1993; not all encompassing; political solidarity cannot be enforced but must be built (intergov method); (today) based on Art. 24, 24(2), 24(3) of TEU and limits in 275 TFEU; 3 modi operandi to conduct CFSP: defining general guidelines, adopting deicisions, strengthen systematic cooperation between member states in the conduct of policy; instruments: CSDP instruments, external action (finance, trade/association agreements, see EU CBAM ), external dimension of internal policies.

formally adopted in 1999 Council Meeting in Cologne as "European Security and Defense Policy", significant preparation in 1998 St. Malo Declaration of UK & FR; rather conflict response & peacebuilding in neighbourhood, then territorial defense; no common capacity; opt out for members; variation in commitment among members; complimentary, not parallel to NATO (see "Berlin Plus" arrangements from 2002); military & civilian dimension; implementation via SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO), national operational HQs of members, or EU Military Planning and Conduct Capability (EEAS)

European Economic Community established via 1957 Treaty of Rome; Common Commercial Policy, only external dimension of internal policies + trade and development cooperation; gradually becoming FP actor in 60s (first international treaties signed by EEC), e.g., Kennedy round of GATT negotiations where, for the first time, EEC members negotiated with "single voice";

created by Lisbon Treaties 2009 (Art. 18 TEU) to bridge Council and Commission; "Double-Hatted": VP of Commission, HR for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the Council; VP function vague: ‘ensure the consistencyof the Union’s external action’ (Art. 18(4) TEU); HR functions: decision making (Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee, submit CFSP and CSDP proposals, report to and consult with EP {important for budget, public support}), implementation (coordinate activities together with national MoFAs, coordinate civilian & military aspects of CSDP missions together with Political and Security Committee), external representation (represents EU in matters of CFSP, coordinates members for int. conferences), and ensuring consistency between different areas of EU's external action.

academical concept that refers to the effect of the EU on politics and policies of its member states, including changes in national institutions, policymaking mechanisms, policies, values and identity; as a result states develop FP towards issues that were previously unaccounted for (Horn of Africa / Sahel), also allows for projection/upload of national FP to EU level (France -> Sahel), or even de-Europeanization if EU prooves ineffective (e.g. arms exports)

US as main security provider for EU MS -> in return consideration/anticipation of US positions and interests when making FP choices; hampered during Trump area, attempt for more strategic autonomy and new security initiatives

was one of the first and most influential attempts to conceptualize (Western) Europe’s status & role in the world; refers to the transformation of interstate relations within Europe from conflict & indirect violence to ‘civilized’ politics; focuses on the possibility of being a ‘power’ without military instruments, positive public connotation; tied to EU as a normative power; Cold War dominance of NATO left EC/EPC little option to maximize impact as civilian power in 70s/80s; end of East-West order, EU pressured to transform into civilian & military power, see Western Balkans 1990s, complemented CFSP with CSDP

member states retain control through European Council, unanimity rule; legal basis in TEU; mainly CFSP and CSDP

member states accept the transfer of competences to EU and share power with supranational institutions such as Commission & European Parliament, inability to veto decision-making; legal basis TFEU; based on an institutional equilibrium between the Council, the Commission,cthe European Parliament (EP) and the Court of Justice, and on the possibility of majority voting for most decisions in the Council

European External Action Service, created through Lisbon Treaty (TEU), but established in 2010 through a process of difficult inter- and intra-institutional negotiations; lead by HR/VP; entertains a network of ca. 140 EU delegations in third countries, close cooperation with members' diplomatic missions, exchanging & providing information to Brussels joint assessments, contribute to the protection of EU citizens in the territory of third countries, crisis managment capabilities (EU Military Staff, Military Planning and Conduct Capability, Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability, EU Intelligence and Situation Centre)

objectives vis-à-vis third countries (relational) or international organizations, including treaties, conventions or whole regions (structural)