In July, along with Poland and Spain, our two countries presented an initiative in Brussels that aims to equip Europe with a strategy as a global actor. Four countries, each of which embodies the profile and spirit of Europe in its own different way, are acting together to entrust, between now and spring 2013, four distinguished think tanks with the mandate to draft considerations and proposals that will pave the way for a “European Global Strategy”. Those think tanks are: the Institute of International Affairs, for Italy; the Polish Institute of International Affairs, for Poland; the Royal Elcano Institute, for Spain; and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs, for Sweden.
The method chosen – governments involving independent research institutes in the decision-making process – shows that pluralism and innovation are the criteria inspiring an initiative founded upon democratic participation. The aim is to define the future profile of a Europe that, with a “positive agenda” of shared values and interests, still has much to give. The Euro crisis is subjecting Europe to strong pressures, and priority is inevitably being given to the measures needed to implement effective economic and financial governance. It is just as important to look beyond the immediate problems, and to develop a vision based on Europe’s future as a global actor.
A precise and coherent strategy can enhance Europe’s “credentials”, in the eyes of its partners and in public diplomacy terms, as a unified international policy actor that has a clear vision of the goals of its action and is able to ensure that the instruments are commensurate with the ends. We must move in a number of different directions. First and foremost, the Strategy must reflect the change in the global strategic framework and be based on a comprehensive vision of the international context. We must also exploit to best effect the full potential of the institutional changes introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon, especially from the decisive perspective of Europe’s external action.
Our goal is a European foreign policy that is better able to promote the common interests of the 27, and which sets, rather than follows, the pace of events. We want a Europe that is increasingly able to assert its influence, respond to global challenges and bring to bear its values of peace, cooperation and security in democracy. We intend to equip Europe with its own strategic global mindset, which will have two distinguishing features. One, to promote law as the fundamental canon in international relations. And the second, to place human rights and freedom, starting with the fundamental rights of religion and “on-line” expression, as a beacon for the European Union’s relations with the four corners of the globe.
The High Representative, Catherine Ashton, stood as godmother to the “European Global Strategy” which, thanks not least to her personal support, we hope is destined to supplement, up-date and strengthen the existing European Security Strategy, which was approved in 2003. This process will be built around seminars, debates and analyses in the countries promoting the initiative, under the responsibility of the four authoritative thank tanks we referred to earlier. Input from the European External Action Service (the EEAS, or European diplomatic service), and of other think tanks, both European and otherwise, will be welcome, to ensure that European civil society and public are truly given a voice – a voice that is listened to.
A special web site will be set up for this purpose. The foreign policy of the European Union’s member states is at the service of their citizens. The EU’s foreign policy must increasingly, and to ever better effect, be placed at the service of European citizens, not least because an active and informed European citizenry should be the true foundation of a Europe that speaks with a single voice. A Europe, and a voice, of which today more than ever have an urgent need.
