ABSTRACT
The European Security Strategy (ESS) is a great achievement. For the first time ever, the European Union (EU) has agreed on a document that sets out what the threats to Europe are, what Europe’s main interests and objectives are, and how the European Union will achieve them. However, for the ESS to be implemented in full will require far-reaching changes in how the European Union conducts its foreign and security policy in a coherent manner. Today, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) encompass enormous resources. In addition to the Member States’ own military and civilian capabilities and assets, a number of other instruments have been created at the EU level, such as EU Special Representatives and the European Development Fund. Moreover, EU diplomatic initiatives, trade promotion, disarmament and non-proliferation efforts and environmental policies are all instruments that can be employed before, during, or after crises occur in order to prevent or manage the spread of such crises. The European Union’s international relationships are also increasingly affected by its internal policies which play a vital part in the European Union’s influence externally. For example, EU internal policies on the environment, energy, competition, agriculture and fisheries, transport, anti-terrorism and illegal migration have all affected the European Union’s external relations. These external and internal capabilities, resources, instruments and policies each have their own structure, logic and rationale. While some of them work well together, many others do not and may even work counter to each other. In order to make Europe a more impelling and more effective actor, the European Union must develop a
unity of purpose and achieve unity among its institutions as well as coherence among its many instruments, capabilities, and not least its Member States. As the ESS makes clear, this is a major challenge the European Union now faces.
