EU in the world

Event report

Key Points of the Discussion • Several speakers underlined that CoFoE could provide an important impetus for advancing EU foreign policy and stressed the need for continued involvement of the EU citizens as well as a stronger role of the European Parliament in EU foreign policy • In light of the numerous geopolitical challenges Europe is facing, participants stressed the need for a stronger international role of the EU and highligted the importance of strenghtening EU foreign and security instruments and capabilities • Several speakers argued that often, the political will of the member states is missing to make use of the existing EU foreign policy tools and instruments > “Our EU foreign policy is where our member states want it to be” • As the prospects for treaty changes are little, speakers stressed the need to make greater use of the provisions and the flexibility allowed for in the Treaties. Examples: Article 44, enabling clause, constructive abstention… • There has been a vivid debate about QMV. While for some, moving to majority voting is the key towards a more effective EU foreign policy, others had concerns that it might increase divisions between member states • While there has been a consensus that the EU needs to enhance its capability to act, the term “strategic autonomy” was seen cautiously, and speakers stressed that the EU needs to avoid protectionist tendencies. Participants disagreed about the extent to which the EU should push for greater autonomy vis-a-vis the US • Participants stressed the need for a broad understanding of security and for respective policies covering the different dimensions • In this context, participants also highlighted the importance of combining the EU’s soft and hard power tools and of interconnecting the different external EU policies as well as the external dimensions of internal policies like digital or environmental policies Proposals Decision-making processes and institutional structure • Use the flexibility of the Treaties o Examples: Article 44, constructive abstention, enabling clause • Move gradually to QMV (controversially discussed) • Enhance democratic legitimacy o Strengthen the role of the European Parliament o Bring in the national parliaments o Continue to set up citizens panels • Have an annual meeting of the European Council dedicated to security to review the implementation of the Strategic Compass and set forward-looking priorities • Have a regular review of the Strategic Compass in line with the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) o Guarantee that the input of the European Parliament and citizens is included from early on in the process • Enhance the exchange between the foreign and the defense ministers of the Union by regularly supplementing the Council of Foreign Ministers with Deputies from the Ministries of Defense Tools and instruments • Interconnect the various foreign policies tools the EU has at its disposal and integrate the external dimensions of EU internal policies like digital or environmental policies • Foster the EU’s security and defense capabilities by taking progressive steps towards a common defense policy and by enhancing synergy effects o Make stronger use of PESCO o Deepen cooperation in procurement and development, strengthen the EDA by providing it with the necessary resources and political backing • Use the Union’s economic power in a stronger way, for example by implementing and enforcing stronger conditionality • Strengthen the EEAS o Foster the political support of the member states o Work on a more balanced representation of the member states o Enhance the resources of the EEAS, including the access to intelligence of the member states • Use the Team Europe brand which has been developed to support partner countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic also for future projects o Foster cooperation of EU institutions and member states on the ground o Bring in the joint expertise of the EU institutions and the member states o Back it up with the respective resources, including by linking it to the EIB and EBRD • Harmonize both ends and tools the member states and the EU institutions have at their disposal • Make greater use of partnerships outside the EU, for example by combining Article 44 and partnerships • Enhance the engagement with the EU neighborhood