Germany’s responsibility in the world
European Security & Defence 2015
11
A stronger EU engagement in the foreign policy area (BSC/Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering*) Today more than ever the Eu-
detriment of European values, must be prevented. Only if
ropean Union is confronted in the foreign and security policy
there is solidarity within can Europe resolve its problems. And
areas with a multitude of challenges that require common
yet, these past few weeks, national interests have dominated
answers. For the first time in decades, with the annexation
the political discussions on dealing with the refugees. To make
of the Crimea in breach of international law, borders within
it possible nonetheless to find a solution to the urgent problem
Europe have again been moved by force, calling into question
of relocating those who have already arrived in Europe, the
the very foundations of the European order for peace. It is
EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers decided on 22 Sep-
clear from the Russian intervention in Ukraine that Russia is
tember 2015 for the first time to apply the qualified majority
prepared to use military means in order to impose its interests
principle set out in the Lisbon Treaty in order to impose quotas
against those of its
for the distribution
western partners. The
of 120 000 refugees
advances of “Islamic
amongst the coun-
State” (IS) in Syria and Iraq is shaking the Middle Eastern system of states to the core,
“Europe must be given the capacity once and for all to be an active player on the world stage and a reliable ally.”
creating a crisis that, not least of all due to
tries of the Union. This was a necessary step in order to preserve the EU’s capacity for action and, above all,
the large numbers of refugees fleeing to the countries of the
credibility. Indeed, the High Representative of the Union for
European Union in order to escape the war in Syria and the
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, quite
terror of IS, has long since spilled over into Europe.
rightly warns against the loss of standing and credibility that
In dealing with these crises the EU needs to consider what future role it wishes, through its foreign policy, to define for itself on the international stage and how it will shape its relations
the EU will suffer if it cannot apply within its own borders the very values that it promotes vis-à-vis the rest of the world. If the European Union is to be able meet the future security
with its allies. The conflict in Ukraine and the common adopti-
challenges more effectively it is essential to further develop
on of a sanctions regime against Russia have shown that the
the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP): Europe must
EU member states are able to agree on a common political
be given the capacity once and for all to be an active player
line and that they are also willing to assume leadership res-
on the world stage and a reliable ally. This is why the Euro-
ponsibilities. Both of these are quite rightly being demanded
pean Council decided on 25 – 26 June 2015 to take forward
of us by our transatlantic partners and are also essential pre-
the work on a new European Security Strategy, to be sub-
conditions for the EU to be able to play an active and defining
mitted by June of next year. That strategy must take account
role in the framework of a global foreign and security policy.
of the new security situation in Europe’s neighbourhood and
In regard to the current refugee crisis, however, the EU member states have shown themselves to be divided. Once
define regional priorities for the EU’s external relations. It was agreed at the June meeting to continue working on
again the European Union is being put internally to the test
“a more effective, visible and result-oriented CSDP, the further
and must ask how much solidarity the member states are
development of both civilian and military capabilities, and the
willing to show towards each other in order to master the
strengthening of Europe’s defence industry”. Issues pertaining
challenges ahead of them together. More than ever, faced with
to the Common European Security and Defence Policy are in
this disaster of the century, there is a need for comprehensive
future to be placed regularly on the European Council’s agen-
efforts to fight the root causes of the exodus and to better
da. These are steps in the right direction, but the EU member
coordinate the growing influx of refugees. Anything less would
states must have the political will to take those steps together.
be a sign of moral destitution on the part of the EU. The current challenges call for a strengthening of the EU’s
*Dr Hans-Gert Pöttering, former President of the European
engagement in the foreign policy area: a renationalisation of
Parliament, Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation,
foreign policy, with states pursuing their own interests to the
and Member of the Advisory Board BSC 2015
