What is the Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union? What are its intentions and goals, how is it situated in the framework of the European Union? How can decisions be made in that context and what influences the outcome of this process? Attempts of explanation will be made, although it is expected that the reader has sufficient knowledge about the history of european cooperation on the fields of foreign and security issues, as this research will start with the foundation of the CFSP in the Treaty on the European Union of Maastricht 1992/93. After investigation of the abilities and concepts of the CFSP the case of Serbia and Montenegro shall be put into focus. What has happened in the region paralell to the development of the CFSP in the decade of 1990 – 2000, affecting this new state. What sort of engagement was imposed by the European Union? Did it have adequate success or was it an overall failure to try and would have been better to leave this matter to the United States “South Eastern European Cooperative Initiative” (SECI)? What was achieved through the Belgrade Agreement of March 2002, a real solution or a sort of ceasefire between the parties? Concluding the two research questions and presenting three different but in fact not so different views on the development of engangement of the European Union in southeastern europe shall then lead into a conclusion dealing with the question wether or not the CFSP and its initiatives can be a tool to improve the position of the EU in the world context and as a regional actor.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Section I: The Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union
1.1 History and targets of the CFSP
1.2 Important articles and titles of the Treaty on European Union referring to the CFSP
1.3 Structure of the CFSP – problems and ways within decision structure
1.3.1 The institutions affected by the CFSP
1.3.2. The decision making structure of the CFSP
1.4 Identitiy and interests of member states
1.4.1 The “Grande Nation”: France
1.4.2. The European Developer: Germany
1.5 Summary
Section II: The EU’s role in conflict resolution in the former Yugoslavia on the example of Serbia and Montenegro
2.1 Marks in the decade of war in the former Rebulic of Yugoslavia with special importance to the parts of Serbia and Montenegro
2.2 Attempts and engagement of the EU in conflict resolution in Serbia and Montenegro
2.3 The Belgrade Agreement
Section III: Dimension of EU’s foreign policy in the framework of SouthEastern Europe
3.1
3.1.1 Gergana Noutcheva and Michel Huysseune : Focus on the results of the SAA for Serbia and Montenegro
3.1.2. Jadranko Prlic: A new european future for the Balkans?
3.1.3. Rafael Biermann: From stabilization to integration
3.2 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the structure and decision-making processes of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), specifically focusing on its application and effectiveness in conflict resolution within Serbia and Montenegro.
- Evolution and legal foundation of the CFSP within the EU framework.
- Analysis of decision-making structures and the impact of national interests (France and Germany).
- Case study of EU engagement in the former Yugoslavia.
- Evaluation of the Belgrade Agreement of 2002 as a mechanism for stability.
- Assessment of future integration strategies for Southeastern Europe.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1: History and targets of the CFSP
As mentioned in the introduction this part shall give an introduction to the CFSP context, as well as the main aims and goals of it. It is expected that the reader has sufficient knowledge about the institutions and history prior to the CFSP in the Maastricht Treaty of 1992. Therefore the time from the Davignon Report to the Single European Act is only mentioned where appropriate, and without background information but just as referrer to or against the results from Maastricht onwards.
The historical motivation for the Common Foreign Security Policy is simple. While the economic power and influence of the European Union grew stronger for 4 decades it’s security and foreign policy issues remained weak as every state had it’s own policy without any quotable information exchange among them1. Kreft also mentions another reason vital for the establishment of a CFSP which according to him lead to the Single European Act. He quotes that the US SDI program and the thread from the USSR in the period from 1984 to 1987 were a key feature leading to Maastricht in 1992.2
Having this in mind, we now can understand the central aim of the CFSP for the European Union.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Defines the scope of the CFSP and outlines the research questions regarding the EU's role in the conflict-ridden region of Serbia and Montenegro.
Section I: The Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union: Analyzes the history, legal structure, and decision-making complexities of the CFSP, including the varying national interests of France and Germany.
Section II: The EU’s role in conflict resolution in the former Yugoslavia on the example of Serbia and Montenegro: Investigates the historical context of the Yugoslavian wars and the EU's mediation efforts, culminating in the 2002 Belgrade Agreement.
Section III: Dimension of EU’s foreign policy in the framework of SouthEastern Europe: Examines different academic perspectives on the effectiveness of the Stability and Association Agreement (SAA) and the path from stabilization to potential EU integration.
Keywords
European Union, CFSP, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Serbia and Montenegro, Belgrade Agreement, Conflict Resolution, Yugoslavia, Stability and Association Agreement, SAA, Southeastern Europe, European Integration, Foreign Policy, Decision-making, Diplomacy, Stabilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper primarily investigates the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union and evaluates its effectiveness as a tool for conflict resolution and stabilization in the region of Serbia and Montenegro.
What are the primary thematic areas covered in the work?
The work covers the institutional history of the CFSP, the influence of national interests of major member states like France and Germany, the historical conflict in the former Yugoslavia, and the strategies for regional integration.
What is the main objective or research question?
The research aims to determine if the CFSP and its initiatives are viable tools to enhance the EU's position as a regional and global actor, specifically by analyzing the EU's mediation in the formation of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author employs a qualitative analysis of institutional structures, legal treaties, and academic literature to assess the performance of the EU in international relations and conflict management.
What does the main body of the paper address?
The main body breaks down the CFSP structure into decision-making frameworks, investigates the specific case study of Serbia and Montenegro, and provides a comparative analysis of scholarly views on the Stabilization and Association Process.
How can this work be characterized by its keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as European Union, CFSP, Conflict Resolution, Serbia and Montenegro, and Stabilization, reflecting its focus on foreign policy and regional stability.
How does the author characterize the role of the Belgrade Agreement?
The author views the Belgrade Agreement as a "thin paper" that represents the smallest possible consensus between Serbia and Montenegro, facilitated by the EU to ensure stability and define a path toward eventual integration.
What challenges for future EU enlargement does the author mention in the conclusion?
The author highlights that managing an enlarged union of 25+ members makes the integration of smaller, fragmented states like those in the Balkans increasingly complex, requiring long-term commitment and clear roadmaps.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Herrmann (Author), 2005, The Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/34469
