・The complexity of the EU's CFSP in the perspective of enlargement raises the question of how this can be managed without always having to resort to the lowest common dominator. Some sort of an inner circle is necessary at least during the setting up of the framework for a certain policy. This group has to be formed according to the principle of the "capable and willing" in order to avoid leaving aside those major powers interested and engaged in the conflict. Genuine EU bodies like the High Representative and the Commissioner for External Affairs will play a certain role. Nevertheless, this core group approach stands in contradiction with the equality of member states in the EU.
・The last two conflicts in the Balkans have demonstrated the need for more flexible groups of interested and powerful states beyond "organized multilateralism" in order to come to grips with a solution for the crisis. The Contact Group and the G-8 grouping played this role. Obviously, there is a need to complement the existing multilateral frameworks by such a "big power concert," which certainly remains linked with the major organizations.
・In the current institutional framework, with NATO as the main link between the US and Europe in security matters, flexibility is also a prerequisite for the smooth running of the system. One reason is that under current conditions a permanent and fully-fledged "European position" within NATO could lead quite easily to a stalemate because it would be difficult for the Europeans to negotiate seriously on this position. Due to the intricacy of European decision-making, such a policy will be difficult to change during negotiations. A true "single European voice" would ultimately require a substantial transformation of the existing security institutions. A bilateral relationship between the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and the US would bypass NATO, which is still regarded by Washington as the United States' major channel of influence. Nevertheless, this might be discussed in the middle of this decade.
Notes
1. This body will be composed of national representatives and will deal with all aspects of the CFSP, including the Common European Security and Defense Policy.
2. See The Presidency Reports to the Helsinki European Council on "Strengthening the Common European Policy on Security and Defence" and on "Non-Military Crisis Management of the European Union," Annex IV, Helsinki, 10 and 11 December, p. 24.
3. Mr. Solana, the former Secretary General of NATO, started his work in November 1999. The decision was also taken that he also takes over the Secretary General position at WEU.
4. The Presidency Reports to the Helsinki European Council, p.24.
6. This incorporates the treatment of the neighborhood including Russia.
Dr. Peter Schmidt
Chief Researcher
Stiftung Wissenshaft und Politik (SWP)
(Research Institute for International Affairs)
Ebenhausen, Germany
