ABSTRACT

This chapter provides a comparative overview of bottom-up processes in the area of foreign policy in the six countries. Of all uploading attempts that the governments of all six southern European Member States engaged in during the past fifteen years, those that were destined to influence the positions of other EU Member States and to influence European Union (EU) decision-making directly were most prominent. This can be observed in policy areas such as the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), conflict resolution, immigration and in the field of external relations, mainly with respect to North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans. The six southern European Member States have been consistent and active contributors to CSDP military and civilian missions, with Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece among the most prolific providers of personnel for EU operations, and even Cyprus and Malta participating to the extent allowed by their modest capabilities.