A common European policy in fields of Foreign and Security Affairs has always been one of the crucial points of ongoing European Integration. It seems suitable that one can find here a point where the controversial debate about a supranational or a more intergovernmental character of the Union manifests itself. Since the external relations of a nation-state are still considered as the core of national qualities the activities and authorities of the EU in this area are consequently much more disputed than, for instance, issues only regarding the Common Market. From the early days of European integration on, the EU has been trying to enhance its ability to perform as a unified and effective actor on the global stage. However, to some extent many of the purposes remained ambitious rhetoric. Great expectations with little or no chance of actually coming to fruition, this could, if you put it in a nutshell, apparently be an easy and appropriate description of the dilemma the EU foreign and security policy suffers. Many observers expected a fundamental shift with the work of the constitutional convention. The arising euphoria about the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (hereafter: TCE) had soon worn off since the constitutional breakthrough has not happened. This paper concentrates on the impact of the TCE on the future of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and in particular on Foreign Policy rather than the security aspects. It focuses on the question whether there is great probability that the TCE will improve Europe’s capability to act according to the demands the Union made on several occasions on itself. In order to discuss this, the paper will recapitulate the main developments and outlines of the CSFP up to now in a first step from a rather historical perspective . T he spotlight will turn to the current discussion about the constitution and its consequences in chapter three. This section will include a rather technical look on the constitutional arrangements but also an analysis of potentials and shortcomings lying in the TCE.
Chapter VI will deal with attempts at explanations and will therefore briefly discuss major theories of European Integration and their explanatory capacity. A last part is reserved for some concluding remarks and brief outlook.
Table of Contents
I.) Introduction
II.) EU Common Foreign Policy up to now – Developments and Outlines
III.) The Institution: Changes and Constants concerning the CSFP
1.) Institutional Architecture
2.) The Union Minister of Foreign Affairs
3.) The full-time President of the European Council
4.) Quality Majority Voting
5.) Enhanced Cooperation
IV.) Potentialities and Shortcomings of the Provisions for the CSFP
V.) Concluding Remarks
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines the impact of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE) on the future of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), specifically focusing on whether the new institutional provisions enhance the European Union's capability to act effectively on the global stage as a unified actor.
- The historical development and institutional evolution of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
- Evaluation of key institutional changes, including the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs (UMFA) and the President of the European Council.
- Analysis of decision-making mechanisms such as Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) and enhanced cooperation.
- Critical assessment of the tension between intergovernmental control and the desire for supranational efficiency.
- Theoretical perspectives on European integration, specifically comparing Neo-Functionalism and Intergovernmentalism.
Excerpt from the Book
The Union Minister of Foreign Affairs
One of the most central inventions of the new institutional architecture is the UMFA. This post replaces the current structure of a troika of external representation by the Council Presidency, the HR and the commissioner responsible for the external relations. Therefore, the TCE fulfils the demands for the ‘single voice’ for Europe. There are several functions assigned to the UMFA including a substantial workload and a very broad responsibility. First, he serves as an external representative of the EU, but he shall also be an initiator an executor of European decisions. Further, he chairs the Council of Foreign Affairs and is one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission as well. This pragmatic, so-called ‘double-hat’, solution combines in these way supranational and intergovernmental parts of the EU-structure. His cooperation with the Political and Security Committee (PSC) shall be very intense and constant, this includes the right to authorise the PSC to take relevant measures. In addition, he is involved in the decision-making process of eventual “permanent structured cooperation” (Art. III-312 (2) and (3)). In sum, the creation of this post has great implication for the future functioning of the institutional balance but also some constraints, as we will see later in this paper.
Summary of Chapters
I.) Introduction: This chapter introduces the ongoing debate regarding the EU's foreign policy character and outlines the paper's focus on the impact of the Constitutional Treaty on future EU capabilities.
II.) EU Common Foreign Policy up to now – Developments and Outlines: This section provides a historical overview of the evolution of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, highlighting the persistent tension between national sovereignty and the desire for a unified European voice.
III.) The Institution: Changes and Constants concerning the CSFP: This chapter analyzes the specific structural redesigns proposed by the TCE, including the new ministerial posts, institutional hierarchy, and updated decision-making rules.
IV.) Potentialities and Shortcomings of the Provisions for the CSFP: This section critically evaluates whether the treaty reforms effectively bridge the gap between ambitious EU policy goals and the existing limitations of intergovernmental decision-making.
V.) Concluding Remarks: The final chapter summarizes the findings, arguing that while the treaty introduces pragmatic modifications, it does not fully resolve the fundamental dilemmas regarding the EU's role as a coherent global actor.
Keywords
Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, Constitutional Treaty, TCE, European Integration, Intergovernmentalism, Neo-Functionalism, Union Minister of Foreign Affairs, UMFA, Institutional Architecture, Qualified Majority Voting, QMV, Brusselization, Sovereignty, European Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper evaluates the future of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) in the context of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (TCE).
What are the primary themes discussed?
Central themes include the institutional reform of EU foreign policy, the tension between supranational and intergovernmental cooperation, and the EU's ability to act as a unified global actor.
What is the main research question?
The author investigates whether the provisions introduced by the Constitutional Treaty will realistically improve Europe's capability to meet its own ambitions for effective foreign policy action.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on historical development, a technical review of legal arrangements in the treaty, and a theoretical discussion using Neo-Functionalism and Intergovernmentalism.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body examines historical developments, details the institutional redesigns (such as the UMFA post), and analyzes the potential effectiveness and shortcomings of these reforms.
How would one characterize this research with keywords?
Key terms include CFSP, TCE, institutional architecture, sovereignty, European integration, QMV, and external representation.
What is the significance of the "double-hat" role for the Union Minister of Foreign Affairs?
The "double-hat" describes the role of the UMFA as both a Vice-President of the Commission and the chair of the Foreign Affairs Council, intended to bridge supranational and intergovernmental interests to create a "single voice" for Europe.
How does the author view the "Brusselization" of foreign policy?
The author describes it as the increasing formulation and implementation of policies by staff and offices in Brussels, while noting that fundamental decisions still remain firmly in the hands of member states.
- Quote paper
- Timo Rahmann (Author), 2005, The future of the EU-Foreign Policy in the light of the constitutional treaty, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/49090
