Historical background: the reasons for its development, its objectives, institutions and bodies

 

The development of the economic integration process and the constantly expanding external action of the European Union, coupled with the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the bipolar international system, opened up new paths for the European Union, and clearly demonstrated the need to supplement economic integration with a common foreign policy.

 

The Balkan crisis of the 1990s and the European Union's inability to address the situation in its immediate neighbourhood was a catalyst for the institutionalisation and development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy set down in the Maastricht Treaty, which entered into force in 1993.

 

Pursuant to article J.1 of the Treaty for the European Union, the objectives of the common foreign and security policy are: to safeguard the common values, fundamental interests and independence and integrity of the Union; to strengthen the security of the Union; to preserve peace and strengthen international security, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter as well as the principles of the Helsinki Final Act and the objectives of the Paris Charter, including those on the external borders. The European Union’s external action is aimed at the promotion of democracy, of the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the principles of equality and solidarity.

 

The CFSP has developed since Maastricht through a specialised system of particular bodies and actions.

 

This Treaty was then amended and further completed by the Amsterdam Treaty in June 1997 and the current Nice Treaty (which came into force on 1.2.2003)[1]. The Treaty of Amsterdam introduced a new foreign policy instrument, to be added to joint actions and common positions: the common strategy. Common strategies are decided upon by the European Council by unanimity, in areas where member states have important common interests.

 

The Secretary General of the Council/EU High Representative for the CFSP has become an important international player, assisting the Presidency and representing the European Union on many occasions for its contacts with third states.

 

The institution of Special Representatives is an important tool for the implementation of the Common Foreign Policy, as well as the promotion and coordination of EU action in areas of special European interest. Currently, the Council of the European Union has appointed Special Representatives for Afghanistan, the region of the Great Lakes in Africa, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Central Asia, FYROM, the Middle East Peace Process, Moldova, the South Caucasus, and Sudan.

 

The Treaty of Lisbon includes some important institutional changes with regard to the CFSP. The Treaty, signed on 13.12.2007, was to be put into force following its ratification by all the member states. The new Treaty has not entered into force yet due to the Irish “No”. It is expected to come into force in the coming year following a new Irish referendum, likely to be held in October 2009.

 

Pursuant to the new provisions of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU High Representative for the CFSP will chair the Council of External Relations and also hold the position of Vice-President of the European Commission. He will be assisted in the discharge of his duties by the External Action Service of the European Union. With regard to the CFSP, the new Treaty provides for the six-month EU Presidency held by member states according to a rotating order to be replaced. The European Council is to have an elected President with a mandate of 2.5 years. The mutual assistance clause is of particular importance within the framework of the CFSP, as it provides for the obligation of aid and assistance from the member states for any member state that is a victim of armed aggression on its territory. The new Treaty also introduces a solidarity clause which states that Member States are obliged to assist each other if one is the victim of a terrorist attack or a natural or man-made disaster.

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