The EU Presidency

“The more security and stability there is on our borders, the safer and better off Europe itself is.”

Dalia Grybauskaité

The European Union has to be credible, human, secure and open Increased stability and prosperity on the entire continent

by Dalia Grybauskaité, President of the Republic of Lithuania /Presidency of the Council of the EU, Vilnius/Brussels

Almost a year ago, the European Union received the Nobel Peace Prize for its contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe. During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Lithuania seeks to mobilise the support of member states, European institutions and, indeed, all Europeans for a credible, open and growing Europe that not only provides security and welfare for its citizens, but also promotes democracy and stability in the world.

This is why the December European Council – the first European Council to address the issues of security and defence in five years – is so important. We must strengthen our security and defence cooperation in times of protracted debt crisis, slow economic growth and high unemployment by means of more cooperation based on pooling and sharing of resources between member states and on smart development of the capabilities that Europe requires. We must also realise that the security situation in Europe closely depends on the situation in our neighbourhood – the more security and stability there is on our borders, the safer and better off Europe itself is. The European Union is a unique project. No other international player possesses such a variety of political, economic and social instruments to promote democratic development and political stability across the world, while the full potential of Europe’s “soft power” is often underestimated. This is why the European Union’s Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in November in Vilnius is so important. Europe must reach out to its partners not only for closer economic and trade ties, but also for increased stability and prosperity on the entire continent.

The world today is less stable, more complex and less predictable than it was ten years ago. A whole spectrum of new threats, including cyber, energy, informational, environmental, and humanitarian has now emerged which requires constant attention and action. But Europe has consistently proven its ability to adapt to new risks and challenges; but to be able to address them in an effective and efficient way, we must look for possibilities for working closely with our neighbours, partners and other international players that share our goals and values. This is why we must seize the opportunity to discuss new challenges and our cooperation with partners not only at the Vilnius Summit, but also in the European Council, which, will be addressing the issues of European security and defence. This will also empower Europe to continue advancing the important goals it received the Nobel Peace Prize for – peace and reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe and beyond its borders.

Common Foreign and Security Policy The 2009 Lisbon Treaty, by creating the European External Action Service (EEAS), paved the way for Europe to play a more high-profile role on the international stage. It gave this unique union of 28 states a voice with which to convey its message of human dignity, democracy, human rights and freedom. But only if all member states do their bit in a spirit of solidarity with each other will the European Union be able to consolidate internally and to bring influence to bear at global level in the interests of mankind as a whole.

Documentation

A new EU foreign policy – a European Parliament view

(Edit/ak) In October 2013 the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) voted on the report evaluating the Annual Report from the Council on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (2012).In the report, AFET Chairman and Rapporteur Elmar Brok focuses upon the cooperation among different actors involved in the process of EU foreign policy decision-making. He stresses the importance of the EP as an intermediary between the citizens of the EU and the Commission, Council and VP/HR. In particular, the report appeals to the Member States to fulfil their duties laid down in the Lisbon Treaty and to contribute to a more cohesive and consistent EU foreign policy.

The European Parliament “Considers that the first quarter of the twenty-first century is characterized by a period of prolonged structural change that is transforming the global order; stresses that this demands a fresh approach to shaping a new multi-polar world order that is inclusive and underpinned by the rule of law and a pluralist democratic model as well as universal values, including human rights […] Stresses that the world financial crisis and the growing assertiveness of new emerging economies pose major political, economic, social, cultural and environmental challenges, including internal problems, for all parties and takes the view that addressing such challenges requires collective and united EU action and the forging of alliances […]

Responding to emerging threats Underlines the need for EU foreign policy to be flexible in responding to emerging threats and challenges in areas such as health, energy, climate change and access to water, all of which may have an impact upon our political priorities and our economies as well as on international development States that only by acting jointly or in unity do we have the strength to pursue our interests and defend our values in this world […] Stresses that the effectiveness of the EU’s external action also depends on the full support of its citizens and on the legitimacy it acquires by being anchored in the EU’s fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and therefore calls for close, regular and timely consultation of the European Parliament in setting clear priorities and objectives for EU foreign policy Urges the Member States to play a constructive role in the Union’s foreign and security policy by promoting strategic policy coordina

tion at the Union level, in particular through effective cooperation between their capitals and Brussels concerning the positions they adopt in multilateral fora, notably at the United Nations and within NATO

Maintain policy Takes the view that enlargement remains an important tool of EU foreign policy and is in the EU’s long-term strategic interest, which cannot necessarily be measured in terms of short-term balance sheets; points out, however, that the enlargement policy needs to take into account the EU’s own integration capacity and the genuine commitment of the Western Balkan countries and of Turkey to take up their responsibilities and address outstanding concerns […] Elmar Brok addressing the European Parliament.

Photo: EPP Group in the EU (official), CC BY-ND 2.0, Flickr

Syria Regrets the fact that the EU gave up its common policy of an arms embargo on Syria, thereby undermining a common approach; condemns the tragic and on-going bloodshed in Syria, which has already had a devastating and destabilizing humanitarian impact, including on neighboring countries […]; calls on the Member States to show solidarity and to provide help to refugees from Syria and displaced persons within Syria […] stresses that the severity of the situation in Syria requires a high level of coherence and solidarity among the EU Member States, working in cooperation with NATO and regional actors, especially Russia, Iran, Israel and Turkey.

Cooperation with multilateral partners Acknowledges the role of the UN Security Council (UNSC) as the highest international body responsible for peacekeeping and international security, while noting that recent crises have highlighted its growing inability to act in a timely manner in response to serious threats to international peace and security […]; urges the VP/HR, therefore, to put her efforts into securing a permanent EU seat in the UNSC and steering the reform of the UNSC […]”

Catherine Ashton’s final report on the CSDP

(Edit/nc) On 15 October 2013, Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), published her final report on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The report analyses the strategic context and sets out proposals and actions in three main areas: the strengthening of the CSDP, the enhancement of European capabilities and the reinforcement of the European defence industry. In view of the upcoming European Council on Defence, the HR/VP points out that the European Council should define a strategic direction for the further development of the CSDP and defence cooperation in Europe.

After the presentation of her final report, Catherine Ashton issued the following statement: “I was asked by the European Council in December 2012 to present proposals to further strengthen the Common Security and Defence Policy, ahead of a discussion by leaders in December of this year. I presented an interim report in July and I am now issuing the final report. This debate among leaders comes at an opportune moment. The EU needs to protect its interests and promote its values, and it needs to be able to act as a security provider both in its neighbourhood and at the international level. To be credible, this requires capabilities and a strong industrial base. This is both a challenge and an opportunity. Defence cooperation is never straightforward, but there is certainly scope for further enhancing cooperation among the Member States to develop and deploy capabilities. In addition, the defence industry can be a driver for jobs, growth and innovation. The report sets out proposals and actions in three areas: - Strengthening CSDP: the Union needs to be able to respond rapidly to security challenges - cyber, space, energy, maritime and border security. To act as a security provider we need to be able to engage with partners, and to build the capacity of partner organisations and third states, using all the tools of our external action. This is the idea of our comprehensive approach. - Enhancing European defence capabilities: cooperation has become essential to the maintenance of capabilities and to the success of CSDP. It allows Member States to develop, acquire, operate and maintain capabilities together, making best use of potential economies of scale. - Reinforcing Europe’s defence industry: a strong and healthy industrial base is a prerequisite for developing and sustaining defence capabilities and securing Europe’s strategic autonomy. The European Commission put forward a Communication “Towards a more competitive and efficient European defence and security sector” in July. The proposals in my report complement the Commission’s work.”

> Final Report: http://tinyurl.com/ozlknus

High Representative Catherine Ashton with Mohammed Javad Zarif, Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs during the E3/EU+3 talks over Iran's nuclear programme, Geneva, 7 November 2013 Photo: © European Union, 2013,