Samenvatting – European Foreign policy (obv PP)
LES 2: The history, nature and
objectives of EU foreign policy
Foreign policy is a nation's strategy for interacting with other countries, guided by objectives like
security, economic gain, and humanitarian aid, using tools such as diplomacy, trade, and military
action, and influenced by internal politics and global events.
Historical overview & areas of tension
- WW’s and uncertainty BUT collaborate which each other to rebuild, economically grow
- NATO (1949): led by USA at the time and provide security by military help
o MarshallPlan: reestablishment of the European States after the war
o USA first strengthen themselves, accept industry collaboration
- Foreign policy as a taboo in European integration: so not a part of European integration
o Economically focused, no defence, no foreign policy
- Decolonisation process = neo-colonial behavior is forbidden
o Common Commercial Policy: common market to create a common external tariff,
one bloc trade with removing barriers, rules harmonizing
o European Political Cooperation: foreign policy to cooperate and NOT integrate with
Eastern and Middle Eastern part (voorloper van CFSP)
, - Maastricht Treaty (TEU): Treaty of the European Union
o Context: fear of Germany (Berlin Wall) to commit SU
o Extra step: Common currency
o Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
o Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
- Enlargement and start of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP)
o 2004 & 2007
o Aim: to create a peaceful and close relationship with neighbouring countries, area of
prosperity and values of the Union
o South: 10 = Algerije, Egypte, Israël, Jordanië, Libanon, Libië, Marokko, Palestina,
Syrië, Tunesië
o East: 6 = Armenië, Azerbebijan, Wit-Rusland, Georgië, Moldavië, Oekraïne
- Crisis and geopolitical shifts
o Annexation of the Crimea (2014)
o Russian Invasion Ukraine (2022)
o Trump re-elected (2025)
MORE INTEGRATION????? Bv. European Defence Union
a. Areas of tension in EU foreign policy
= understanding the evolution and nature of EU foreign policy via these tensions, these are the major
explanatory factors in the analysis.
- European integration vs transatlantic solidarity
o NATO
o American security guarantee & Atlantic Alliance = all the EU MS after the WW’s
Military dependence of the EU (national as European level)
USA = Security provider
Atlantic factor: divisive issue in Common EU foreign policy
Support of USA to CSDP
Powerful = Central and East MS saw NATO and USA were their vital
security guarantee.
Trump = disengagement in NATO, doubt about provider
EU focused on strategic autonomy and initiatives on security and
defense
- Civilian vs military power
o EU = Civilian power
It refers to the transformation of interstate relations within Europe from
conflict and indirect violence to civilized politics
Possibility of an actor being a power while not possessing military
instruments
EU as normative power
Bv. Enlargement talks and dominance of NATO in the military security
, 1999: CSFP + CSDP
o EU = military power
Modest power
Bv. Libya and Afghanistan; EU surpassed their own capacities
To which extent should the EU exerts power and become power at all?
- World disorder = EU should behave more as a power
- Behavior as a power = promote and support new political structures in other parts of the
world compelled to the EU by using non military foreign policy (=external action)
- EU = external action
o East and Central Europe, Western Balkans = achieved, enforced desired changes or
attitudes in other parts of the world
o ENP = failure of EU as a a power
Intergovernmental vs Community method (supranational)
Intergovernmental method
= the member states retain control over decision-making
o Features of CSFP/CSDP
Weakness = not supported by institutional mechanisms or instruments
Other facets of EFP were not under this policy
Council therefore forced to rely on other EFP domains to implement
CSFP
EC
o Full control of MS
EFP need to fit in their conception of European integration
o Through the European Council and the Council in which they are represented
o Unanimity rule
Community method
= the member states accept a transfer of competences to the EU and share power
o Share power with EP and EC
o No veto rights
o Court of Justice oversight
- External vs internal objectives of EFP initiatives or lack of them
Inter-relational, integration and Identity objectives
, Decision of EFP made in terms of objectives
o External objectives = directed at the external environment with the objective of
influencing that environment
o Internal objectives = EFP directed within the EU and will focus on internal
functionalities there.
Interrelational = aimed at managing MS mutual relations
Resolve the potential tensions and conflicts arising between MS
when dealing with the EFP
Not taking part of EFP for fear of tensions
Integration = aimed at affecting European Integration
Adopt initiatives which aim to strengthen EU integration
Identity = aimed at asserting the identity of the EU
Goal to demonstrate that the EU exists and thus to shape and
strengthen the EU’s identity
these objectives helps to gain a deeper understanding of EU foreign policy bv. Divergences
between levels of expectation of political leaders and the public, why new MS accept EFP initiatives
and why MS can be uninterested.
- Normative vs interest-driven power
o Increase of importance of ‘External dimensions of Internal Policies’
The nature of EU foreign policy
- Not all-encompassing & non-exclusive
EU is not a country = international organization with European Council to overcome limitations and
importance of treaties
o Conferral of power principle
o No transfer of all national foreign policy competences to the EU
o No replacement of national foreign policy
o No exclusive EU competences, retain MS control
Zero sum game: stronger EU weakens NATION
Positive sum game: EU complements NATION
o Wide variety in the extent to which a comprehensive EFP is formulated
Europeanisation = influence of EU in national foreign policy
LES 2: The history, nature and
objectives of EU foreign policy
Foreign policy is a nation's strategy for interacting with other countries, guided by objectives like
security, economic gain, and humanitarian aid, using tools such as diplomacy, trade, and military
action, and influenced by internal politics and global events.
Historical overview & areas of tension
- WW’s and uncertainty BUT collaborate which each other to rebuild, economically grow
- NATO (1949): led by USA at the time and provide security by military help
o MarshallPlan: reestablishment of the European States after the war
o USA first strengthen themselves, accept industry collaboration
- Foreign policy as a taboo in European integration: so not a part of European integration
o Economically focused, no defence, no foreign policy
- Decolonisation process = neo-colonial behavior is forbidden
o Common Commercial Policy: common market to create a common external tariff,
one bloc trade with removing barriers, rules harmonizing
o European Political Cooperation: foreign policy to cooperate and NOT integrate with
Eastern and Middle Eastern part (voorloper van CFSP)
, - Maastricht Treaty (TEU): Treaty of the European Union
o Context: fear of Germany (Berlin Wall) to commit SU
o Extra step: Common currency
o Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
o Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP)
- Enlargement and start of the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP)
o 2004 & 2007
o Aim: to create a peaceful and close relationship with neighbouring countries, area of
prosperity and values of the Union
o South: 10 = Algerije, Egypte, Israël, Jordanië, Libanon, Libië, Marokko, Palestina,
Syrië, Tunesië
o East: 6 = Armenië, Azerbebijan, Wit-Rusland, Georgië, Moldavië, Oekraïne
- Crisis and geopolitical shifts
o Annexation of the Crimea (2014)
o Russian Invasion Ukraine (2022)
o Trump re-elected (2025)
MORE INTEGRATION????? Bv. European Defence Union
a. Areas of tension in EU foreign policy
= understanding the evolution and nature of EU foreign policy via these tensions, these are the major
explanatory factors in the analysis.
- European integration vs transatlantic solidarity
o NATO
o American security guarantee & Atlantic Alliance = all the EU MS after the WW’s
Military dependence of the EU (national as European level)
USA = Security provider
Atlantic factor: divisive issue in Common EU foreign policy
Support of USA to CSDP
Powerful = Central and East MS saw NATO and USA were their vital
security guarantee.
Trump = disengagement in NATO, doubt about provider
EU focused on strategic autonomy and initiatives on security and
defense
- Civilian vs military power
o EU = Civilian power
It refers to the transformation of interstate relations within Europe from
conflict and indirect violence to civilized politics
Possibility of an actor being a power while not possessing military
instruments
EU as normative power
Bv. Enlargement talks and dominance of NATO in the military security
, 1999: CSFP + CSDP
o EU = military power
Modest power
Bv. Libya and Afghanistan; EU surpassed their own capacities
To which extent should the EU exerts power and become power at all?
- World disorder = EU should behave more as a power
- Behavior as a power = promote and support new political structures in other parts of the
world compelled to the EU by using non military foreign policy (=external action)
- EU = external action
o East and Central Europe, Western Balkans = achieved, enforced desired changes or
attitudes in other parts of the world
o ENP = failure of EU as a a power
Intergovernmental vs Community method (supranational)
Intergovernmental method
= the member states retain control over decision-making
o Features of CSFP/CSDP
Weakness = not supported by institutional mechanisms or instruments
Other facets of EFP were not under this policy
Council therefore forced to rely on other EFP domains to implement
CSFP
EC
o Full control of MS
EFP need to fit in their conception of European integration
o Through the European Council and the Council in which they are represented
o Unanimity rule
Community method
= the member states accept a transfer of competences to the EU and share power
o Share power with EP and EC
o No veto rights
o Court of Justice oversight
- External vs internal objectives of EFP initiatives or lack of them
Inter-relational, integration and Identity objectives
, Decision of EFP made in terms of objectives
o External objectives = directed at the external environment with the objective of
influencing that environment
o Internal objectives = EFP directed within the EU and will focus on internal
functionalities there.
Interrelational = aimed at managing MS mutual relations
Resolve the potential tensions and conflicts arising between MS
when dealing with the EFP
Not taking part of EFP for fear of tensions
Integration = aimed at affecting European Integration
Adopt initiatives which aim to strengthen EU integration
Identity = aimed at asserting the identity of the EU
Goal to demonstrate that the EU exists and thus to shape and
strengthen the EU’s identity
these objectives helps to gain a deeper understanding of EU foreign policy bv. Divergences
between levels of expectation of political leaders and the public, why new MS accept EFP initiatives
and why MS can be uninterested.
- Normative vs interest-driven power
o Increase of importance of ‘External dimensions of Internal Policies’
The nature of EU foreign policy
- Not all-encompassing & non-exclusive
EU is not a country = international organization with European Council to overcome limitations and
importance of treaties
o Conferral of power principle
o No transfer of all national foreign policy competences to the EU
o No replacement of national foreign policy
o No exclusive EU competences, retain MS control
Zero sum game: stronger EU weakens NATION
Positive sum game: EU complements NATION
o Wide variety in the extent to which a comprehensive EFP is formulated
Europeanisation = influence of EU in national foreign policy
