Summary: July 27, 2004: Summary of remarks by Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy. Conference of Ambassadors in La Farnesina (Rome)
2004 is a landmark year in the history of Europe. On May 1st, we became a Union of 25 States, the greatest enlargement in the EU's history. On June 19th, Heads of State and Government agreed the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. On 29 October, a new Treaty of Rome will see the light in the Campidoglio, under the watchful eyes not just of the "Orazi e Curiazi", but also of the Founding Fathers of the original Rome Treaty.
The new Constitution, when ratified, will provide a more efficient framework for managing the enlarged Union.
This seems therefore the right moment to reflect on where we are, what foreign policy goals do we want to reach and which instruments we will consequently have to use.
I wish to thank Franco Frattini for inviting me here today. Your Conference provides an excellent opportunity for such a reflection. Your experience will no doubt be essential in this process. Let me therefore share some thoughts with you.
The European Security Strategy
It is our main collective attempt to identify the main challenges and threats which the EU has to face, and to propose ways and means to address them.
The starting point is the EU's responsibility as a major international actor (25 member States, over 450 million inhabitants, a quarter of the world's Gross National Product, and around 40% of World trade, that is a statement of fact.
The EU's has to use this potential to create a safer and more prosperous world. This is not just a moral obligation, it is also the only path towards real security and stability within the EU's own borders.
Multidimentional nature of the challenges and threats
The variety of the challenges and threats that we face in order to ensure the stability and security of our nations calls for a multidimensional and multilateral response. Many threats are inter-linked, often creating a cycle of crisis, which is difficult to break.
Let me illustrate this:
Almost 3 billion people, half the world's population, live on less than 2 euros a day. 45 million die every year of hunger and malnutrition.
Facility of travel contributes to the quick spread of dangerous pandemic diseases which affect trade and development perspectives.
Poverty is exacerbated by disease, and vice versa. This in turn further weakens already fragile societies, which can collapse and lead to war.
Many of such conflicts acquire a regional dimension, thereby increasing their negative impact.
Competition for access to energy supplies risks exacerbating tensions.
Challenges can easily turn into threats, be it in the form of war, terrorism or organised crime, which can threaten the livelihood of European citizens.
Furthermore, the spread of technology and scientific know-how increases the risk of proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
Effective multilateralism
Not even the most powerful country can confront on its own the challenges the international community is facing. Our security and prosperity increasingly depend on an effective multilateral system.
The development of a stronger international society, well functioning international institutions and a rule-based international order is our objective.
The support we can provide to International Organisations and Treaty Regimes will be enhanced by the development of our own crisis management capabilities and the greater efficiency of the EU's assistance and cooperation programmes.
The UN lies at the heart of this system. The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN specialised Agencies, Funds and Programmes allow us to address in a concerted manner the global problems of mankind.
As a matter of fact, daily cooperation with the UN has been at the heart of the development of the European Security and Defence Policy from the outset.
Strictly legal solutions may not always allow to automatically solve political conflicts. But it is clear that such conflicts will not be solved unless justice prevails. The EU must therefore continue to give its full backing to the ICJ and the ICC.
Adherence to weapons control regimes, such as those established by the International Atomic Energy Agency or the Organisation for Chemical Weapons, are essential in our efforts to limit the threat posed by WMD.
Multilateral cooperation is also an important element in the fight against terrorism and organised crime. The different Treaties have contributed to the fight against this threat. The UN Security Council is increasingly active in this domain.
Since 11th September, the EU has also become increasingly active in the fight against terrorism. The 11th March attacks in Madrid have strengthened our resolve in this fight. We are now implementing a comprehensive action plan. We are establishing an anti-terrorist analysis capability within the EU. Also, I have appointed Gijs de Vries as coordinator for EU counter-terrorism activities in order to enhance the efficiency of our actions.
The Neighbourhood Policy
The Security Strategy calls for the establishment of a "ring of well governed countries to the East of the EU and on the borders of the Mediterranean with whom we can enjoy close and cooperative relations."
The New Neighbourhood Policy offers an expanded cooperation with those countries ("Everything but Institutions"). This policy builds on the very important relations with Mediterranean and Middle East countries through the Barcelona process. Important efforts are also being made in our Eastern borders, notably with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as with the Southern Caucus countries.
Partnerships
Partnerships with key actors constitute another major line of action for the EU in order to face the challenges and threats we have identified.
The Transatlantic relationship is irreplaceable. The US is undoubtedly the World's major national actor. Its power has global reach. Furthermore, we belong to the same family; we share the same ideas and values.
The US also needs Europe. The EU is the only global partner available to the US and vice-versa. The US must treat the European Union as a full partner in an effective and balanced partnership. The European Union has to show the US that it is worthy of that title.
The EU's relations with NATO constitute an important element of its relationship with the US but also with other non-EU allies in the field of security. The Berlin plus agreement provides us since 2003 with an important framework for cooperation and for action.
Being a global actor the EU also maintains close links with other parts of the world such as Africa, Latin America and Asia. The strategy specifically identifies Russia, Japan, China, Canada and India as countries with which we should develop strategic partnerships. They are all major international actors and cooperation with them is essential for the EU.
Among regional organisations, the EU's relationship with the African Union is gaining strength. I'm in regular contact with the President of the African Union Commission, Mr. Konaré, and with the Commissioner in charge of crisis management, Mr. Djinjit.
More capable: the development of ESDP; the Constitution
In order to carry out its tasks the EU has to become a more capable actor.
Since 1999 we have identified crisis management capabilities in the military and civilian fields and established headline goals. Political/Military structures have been created. Crisis management procedures and concepts have been developed and financing arrangements have been established. An exercise programme is under way.
Since the declaration of initial operational capability at the end of 2001, five missions have been deployed. A sixth mission, ALTHEA, will be launched at the end of the year in BiH in replacement of SFOR. This will be the most ambitious mission deployed to date by the EU, with over 7000 men.
Further efforts are of course needed and they are under way. A new headline goal identifying military capabilities which will meet our new level of ambition has been established for 2010. Full battle group capability will be established by 2007. A Civilian/Military planning cell will be created within the EU military staff by the end of this year.
The Constitution adopted by the European Council last June also seeks to increase the capacity for action of the EU. It reflects the agreement reached on the higher level of ambition the EU should have as an international actor.
A couple of weeks ago the Council took a decision establishing a European Defence Agency, which will start working before the end of the year. Its aim is to contribute to the identification of military capabilities that would satisfy European requirements and ambitions in a more cost-effective manner and leading to a greater inter-operability of the European forces. The aim is not to spend more (though we may also need some of that in the short run), it is to spend better.
More coherence: The Constitution
To successfully make use of its potential, the EU needs to be able to act in a more coherent manner.
We all know too well that despite the efforts of the Institutions and of Member States this is often not the case. Our Institutions were built with their main aim the internal construction of Europe. Confronted with a situation in which the security of our citizens requires that we act outside our borders, we need to re-examine our Institutional framework.
The Constitution seeks to answer this demand. This has been done first and foremost through the creation of a Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Minister will preside over the Council for External Relations and will be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission.
As Vice-President of the Commission he shall ensure the consistency of the Union's External Action and be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities falling to it in External Relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's External Action.
In fulfilling his mandate the Minister will be assisted by a European External Action Service.
As you know, I now have the responsibility of preparing proposals for the implementation of these aspects of the Constitution.
Member States' support to this project will be the key to its success or failure. The European Union cannot afford to fail. The challenges we have to confront will not wait patiently, until we get our act together.
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