The consequences of the EU enlargement on the European policy of defense : the impacts on the transatlantic relations
Résumé de l'exposé
The Iraq crisis and the intra-divisions concerning the conflict have clearly indicated that it was difficult to establish a common point of view. Each country was ready to assert its opinion, regarding its position in the EU and its personal relations with the US. Even countries that were not in the Union tried to establish a "European position? on the war in Iraq (e.g., Poland). With the enlargement of the EU, the conception and the elaboration of the European defense policy will have to be reconsidered and along with the question of the relation with the US. We may wonder what will be the impacts of the enlargement on the transatlantic relations concerning the defense policy. In the first part, I will briefly describe the history and the background of the European defense policy. Then the main consequences (focused and linked with transatlantic relations) of the enlargement of the EU on the defense policy will be explained. Finally I will discuss the new transatlantic relations that may appear with the enlargement.
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Sommaire de l'exposé
The development of the European defense policy
An old preoccupation
The American nuclear umbrella
The renew of the European defense policy in the 1990's
The ESDP's framework
The consequences of the enlargement on the European Security and defense policy
The main challenge, the need for peace
The advantages of the enlargement
The problematic issues
The new transatlantic relationship
The role of NATO and the EU in shaping a new security community
Toward a collective defense
Is NATO facilitating Europe integration
Extraits de l'exposé
[...] As opposed to what one can believe, we are probably very far from a unique citizenship and identity. The building of Europe takes a direction compared to the formation of Belgium, the Italian and the German unity. We see that Belgium continues to be divided into great entities. Spain also divides. The same applies to the United Kingdom, with the Welsh or Scottish problems. There is thus currently a tendency to decentralization via the creation of territorial capacities. The weight of the States decreases while the weight of the local entities increases. [...]
[...] Finally I will discuss the new transatlantic relations that may appear with the enlargement. I. The development of the European defense policy During the Cold War, the security in Europe was beard by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), that is to say an alliance within the US were predominant. From this situation we can deduce that the security policy in Europe has not been built only by European countries but results mainly from a transatlantic relationship. However, the perspective of a European defense policy was born before the apparition of NATO. [...]
[...] I believe that both organization wish to get closer with Russia and encourage constant and flourished relations with this country. Nevertheless there should not be any kind of competition between the two organizations to seduce Russia. I think that they should not have the same expectations from this partnership. Toward a collective defense With hindsight, the consequences of NATO and the EU enlargements will have at first a negative impact. The strong differences in military and political sectors should be considered as a weakness and the will have difficulties to fulfill their tasks[10]. [...]
[...] The European Councils in Cologne in June 1999 and Helsinki in December 1999 redefined the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). The councils also specified that NATO was still the basis of the collective defense of its members, and that ESDP and NATO were complementary. The ESDP's framework I will briefly describe the military and civilian capacities that have been created to implement an efficient ESDP.[2] This part will present the tools and attributes that enable Europe to coordinate a common foreign policy and to organize operations out of its borders. [...]
[...] It is sure that it will affect the transatlantic relationship. We may wonder if reinforcing the ESDP and improving transatlantic relations are compatible objectives. The role of NATO and the EU in shaping a new security community Since the disappearance of the external threat, NATO's main tasks have been reoriented ?from deterrence or the defense of Western nations against aggression from the East to stability in Europe and cooperation between the United States and European states on broader security matters?[9]. [...]
Économie, administration & politique