The European Union (EU) has long sought to strengthen and make its foreign and security policy more coherent. The Lisbon Treaty established a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy as well as a new diplomatic body, the European External Action Service (EEAS). Despite progress, especially in defense cooperation, the EU is still far from having a coherent and effective foreign policy, particularly as the departure of the United Kingdom has reduced its economic, political, and military weight.
In a radically changed international climate, Europe has become aware in recent years of the need to act more autonomously and decisively. The instability of its neighborhood has worsened due to Russia’s aggressive policies, and the challenges posed by China’s rise have become more apparent, just as the unilateralism of the Trump presidency was shaking confidence in the transatlantic alliance.
In this context, High Representative Josep Borrell spoke of Europe needing to learn the language of power: uncharted territory for a Union whose fundamental principles aim to go beyond power politics by pooling national sovereignties and a rule-based system, defining its external action by these principles. Foreign and security policy remains primarily a national prerogative, with tools of economic policy such as trade, investment, competition policy, and the single currency being activated at the European level. The challenge is therefore largely about effectively combining all instruments of action within a coherent framework.
President Biden began his term by announcing the return of the United States to multilateralism and close cooperation with allies. This also implies a return to global leadership, based on shared democratic values. Europeans have, overall, welcomed Biden’s election and his program to renew American engagement. However, they also question whether Trump’s four years of “America first” – treating allies more as adversaries than friends – were an aberration, or if the deep polarization of the American political system still threatens a U.S. withdrawal from the global scene and the post-war alliance system.
PLAN
- The end of illusions: U.S. and European positions on China before Trump
- American unilateralism: competition with China
- China remains at the heart of U.S. foreign policy
- What role for Europe in this power struggle?
- Discovering the Indo-Pacific
Hans Dietmar Schweisgut, Secretary-General of the Franco-Austrian Center for European Reconciliation (CFA), was the EU Ambassador to Beijing from 2014 to 2018.
Translated from English by Cadenza Academic Translations.
