Common Foreign and Security Policy

Definition

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is a framework for the European Union's joint decision-making and action in the areas of foreign affairs and defense. It aims to enable the EU to speak with one voice on the global stage and to promote its values and interests worldwide.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The CFSP was established by the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 and has since been further developed through subsequent EU treaties.
2. The CFSP allows the EU to take joint actions and make decisions on a wide range of foreign policy issues, including conflict prevention, crisis management, and the promotion of human rights and democracy.
3. The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is the key figure responsible for coordinating and implementing the CFSP, supported by the European External Action Service.
4. While the CFSP operates on the principle of intergovernmental cooperation, with member states retaining a significant degree of control, the EU has gradually moved towards more qualified majority voting in certain CFSP areas.
5. The CFSP is funded through the EU's general budget, with member states contributing according to their economic size and ability to pay.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) contributes to the European Union's role in global governance.
  • The CFSP allows the European Union to coordinate and take joint actions on a wide range of foreign policy issues, enabling the EU to speak with a unified voice on the global stage. This strengthens the EU's ability to promote its values, interests, and influence in international affairs, contributing to its role in global governance. The CFSP provides a framework for the EU to engage in conflict prevention, crisis management, and the promotion of human rights and democracy, thereby shaping the global agenda and contributing to the overall system of international cooperation and decision-making.
• Describe how the decision-making process within the CFSP reflects the balance between intergovernmental cooperation and supranational elements in the European Union.
  • The CFSP operates on the principle of intergovernmental cooperation, where member states retain a significant degree of control over foreign policy decisions. This is reflected in the requirement for unanimous agreement on many CFSP matters, allowing each member state to maintain a veto power. However, the EU has gradually moved towards more qualified majority voting in certain CFSP areas, reflecting a shift towards greater supranational elements. This balance between intergovernmental cooperation and supranational decision-making in the CFSP highlights the ongoing tension between national sovereignty and the EU's collective interests in the realm of foreign and security policy.
• Analyze the role of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in coordinating and implementing the CFSP, and explain how this position contributes to the EU's global influence.
  • The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is a key figure in the CFSP, responsible for coordinating and implementing the EU's foreign and security policy. By serving as the EU's chief diplomat and spokesperson on the global stage, the High Representative helps to ensure coherence and consistency in the EU's external actions. This position also chairs the Foreign Affairs Council, bringing together the foreign ministers of the member states, and oversees the European External Action Service, the EU's diplomatic corps. The High Representative's ability to represent the EU's collective interests and speak on behalf of the member states enhances the EU's global influence and visibility, enabling it to play a more prominent role in international affairs and contribute to the system of global governance.

Related terms

European Union (EU): A political and economic union of 27 member states located primarily in Europe, with the goal of promoting peace, its values, and the well-being of its citizens.

Intergovernmental Cooperation: A method of decision-making within the EU where member states retain a high degree of control and unanimity is required for major decisions, as opposed to the supranational approach.

Qualified Majority Voting (QMV): A voting system used in the Council of the EU where a majority of member states, representing a minimum percentage of the total EU population, is required to pass legislation, rather than unanimous agreement.