Common Foreign and Security Policy

Question 1

Which act gave the legal basis for European Political Cooperation?

Answer 1

Single European Act 1987

Question 2

In regards to the 1979 USSR invasion of Afghan, how long did it take MSs to decide how to respond under EPC?

Answer 2

3 weeks

Question 3

What did the MSs agree to in the Maastrict Treaty 1992?

Answer 3

The eventual framing of a common defence policy which might in time lead to a common defence

Question 4

What did the 1992 Maastrict Treaty establish about CFSP and CSDP?

Answer 4

Joint actions agreed unanimously and details by QMV
Commission is an extra state essentially
EP to be consulted

Question 5

What did the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam introduce?

Answer 5

(1) common strategies
(2) constructive abstention
(3) policy planning and early warning unit
(4) High Rep of CFSP
(5) Petersburg tasks incorporated into Treaty (peacekeeping, crisis management, humanitarian aid)

Question 6

What is often cited as the beginning of a CSDP?

Answer 6

St Malo Summit in Dec 1998 between Blair and Chirac where proposal for autonomous defence force

Question 7

What did the EU agree in the June 1999 European Council meeting in Cologne?

Answer 7

Deal with conflict independently of US

EU must be autonomous in Petersburg tasks

Question 8

What did the European Council agree in Dec 1999 in Helsinki?

Answer 8

Plans for European Rapid Reaction Force by 2003 (60,000 troops deployable within 60 days for up to a year)

Question 9

What were the key threats identified by the 2003 European Security Strategy?

Answer 9

(1) terrorism
(2) weapons of mass destruction
(3) regional conflicts
(4) failing states
(5) organised crime

Question 10

Which Treaty gave a treaty-base to CSDP actions?

Answer 10

Treaty of Nice 2003

Question 11

What did the EU decide to create in Nov 2004?

Answer 11

Battle groups (1,000-1,500 members in each battle group deployable within 10 days of decision for UN mandated operations)

Question 12

Why weren’t the EU battle groups deployed in Libya in 2011?

Answer 12

Germany refused, not sufficient MS agreement.

Question 13

Who argues that MSs will continue to jealously guard their sovereignty?

Answer 13

Hyde-Price (2007)

Question 14

What does Howorth (2011) explain about the number of EU overseas missions?

Answer 14

27 overseas missions between 2003 and early 2010 but only 6 involved military force

Question 15

What does Howorth (2009) argue about NATO and the EU?

Answer 15

Although they issued a declaration on CSDP for strategic partnership in 2002, the arrangements have never been made to work in practice and the relationship remains essentially dysfunctional

Question 16

Who argues that they EU possess the attributes needed to address the challenges faced (multilateral bargaining, institutional capacity, humanitarian relief) and that once it thinks strategically rather than reactively, the EU could be very influential?

Answer 16

Howorth (2011)

Question 17

Who points out that MSs dominate decision making in CSFP and CSDP and are responsible for major decisions on the basis of unanimity? (Also points out that under Art 3 TEU national security remains sole responsibility of each MS)

Answer 17

Menon (2011)

Question 18

What does Menon (2011) argue about the role of the EU in CFSP and CSDP?

Answer 18

That EU not likely to become a high profile and effective international security actor because compromises of many different states with many different preferences and interests and it is up to MSs to achieve things collectively that they can’t individually

Question 19

What is the process of constructive abstention?

Answer 19

If no consensus on an action, the governments in the minority abstain from voting rather than voting against the agreement. Since the Amsterdam Treaty those governments have not been required to implement the decision but must refrain from taking action directly contrary to the decision.

Question 20

What are the CFSP objectives under Maastrict?

Answer 20

(1) to strengthen the common values, fundamental interests and independence of the EU
(2) to strengthen the security of the EU and its MSs in all ways
(3) to preserve peace and strengthen international security, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter
(4) to promote international cooperation
(5) to develop and consolidate democracy and the rule of law, including human rights

Question 21

What do Hix and Høyland (2011) argue about EU defence policy?

Answer 21

There has been a gradual establishment of foreign and defence policy competences at the European level and a progressive movement towards supranational decision-making, an increased role for supranational actors and institutions in Brussels, and instruments to ensure that the EU acts as a United force in world affairs

Question 22

What does Menon (2009) report about the EU’s military interventions?

Answer 22

That a significant proportion of them have followed action on ground by other institutions (e.g NATO preceded EU troops in Macedonia and Bosnia)

Question 23

According to Menon (2009) why are MSs reluctant to pool their sovereignty in CFSP/ESDP?

Answer 23

They differ in opinion on ESDP policies

Question 24

According to Menon (2009) what is the EU defence policy structurally best suited to?

Answer 24

Smaller-scale crisis management than larger military intervention

Question 25

What does Riddervold (2015) argue about competency of CFSP?

Answer 25

It is moving beyond inter-governmental cooperation as financial incentives for having the Commission involved and it can offer additional expertise