Common Foreign and Security Policy [print sheet]
Last updated: 14/08/08

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) controls the efforts of EU member states to act in a unified way on foreign policy and security affairs. Known as the 'third pillar' of the European Union, it has received extensive attention in recent years as the EU has attempted to carve out an independent role for itself in foreign policy. Some member states, such as France, see this as a way of setting the EU up as a superpower to balance the strength of the USA. Other states view it as a way to improve the manner in which the EU can cooperate with and support the USA. Because of these differing agendas, progress in setting a clear direction for CFSP has been slow, although important changes have occurred.

Until the Maastricht Treaty came into effect on 1 November 1993, the EU had no official role in foreign affairs and could not speak on behalf of its member states. Maastricht committed the EU member states to develop a foreign policy and for the first time allowed the EU to speak with a single voice in this area.

Under the changes made by the Amsterdam Treaty (1997) this process was solidified into the CFSP. The Treaty created a post of EU High Representative for the CFSP, able to represent the European Council abroad. The 1999 Cologne European Council committed the EU to develop the ability to take independent military action, a policy which has been pursued by the High Representative under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). As a result, since 2003 the EU has begun to deploy teams of international observers and peacekeeping forces, such as the team deployed to police Kosovo's transition to independence from Serbia in February 2008 and to Chad in March 2008. .

EU Foreign policy is co-ordinated by the EU High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, who is responsible for building consensus on foreign policy between member states. However, actual decisions on CFSP are made by member states in the European Council. It was agreement here that involved the EU in peacekeeping in Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Congo, as well as observer missions in Gaza and Indonesia. In April 2007, EU foreign ministers agreed to implement sanctions against Iran following its refusal to halt uranium enrichment. In July 2008 sanctions were imposed against President Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe following a violent and undemocratic Presidential election. The European Council also issues 'common strategies' on issues about which members states agree, many as part of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). These include strategies on promoting democracy and peace in Russia, the eastern Mediterranean and the Ukraine. Under the authority of the High Representative, the EU has diplomatic missions in several important countries.

However at present member states retain the right to veto all EU foreign policy decisions and strategies, although Qualified Majority Voting will increasingly be used under the Lisbon Treaty, due to be implemented in 2009. Between 2005-2007 Poland blocked a new Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) with Russia in protest at an ongoing Russian ban on Polish meat imports. Also Spain, Greece and Slovakia opposed UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari's plan for Kosovan independence before Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. Member states also still have the freedom to pursue their own foreign policy goals. Britain and some other members did this in 2003 when they decided to join the US-led invasion of Iraq, despite the opposition of other members.

For

• The CFSP is an effective way of enhancing security around the EU by emphasising shared goals and values.
• Co-operating on foreign policy gives countries a louder voice on the world stage.
• Pooling diplomatic and defence resources allows members to save money because they can share know-how and hardware.

Against

• The EU should not 'go it alone' but maintain traditional links with the USA through NATO and the UN.
• Setting foreign policy is one of the most important jobs of a national government. Un-elected European officials should not be given this power.
• Member states find it very difficult to agree on foreign and security policy, so the CFSP can only ever have limited effectiveness.
• CFSP allows some countries to do less about their security because they can ride on the back of more powerful countries, like the UK or France.

'For decades we had been confronted by various forms of crises on our doorsteps - but without the means to address them. Now we have…' Javier Solana, High Representative for CFSP, 2006

''[CFSP] would have profound and troubling implications for the transatlantic alliance and for future U.S. influence in Europe.' Jeffrey Ciambalo, Journal of Foreign Affairs, 2004