The EU’s common security policy and defence identity at first seemed a challenge to NATO. Is that still the case or is it nowadays not just parallel but increasingly complementary and supportive?
Re:Are NATO-ESDP relations still problematic? Yes, they are still problematic, we have to work on them. There is the question of exchange of information and there is the question of who does what? This shows there’s a need to discuss these matters.
Yes, they are still problematic, we have to work on them. There is the question of exchange of information and there is the question of who does what? This shows there’s a need to discuss these matters.
Re:Are NATO-ESDP relations still problematic? The ambitions of the European Union and the realities of the demands on all of us are coming into harmony. Everyone is recognising that there are more tasks than there are resources. The way we organise them, however, is less significant than making sure there are enough resources available to meet the task. That’s the issue.
The ambitions of the European Union and the realities of the demands on all of us are coming into harmony. Everyone is recognising that there are more tasks than there are resources. The way we organise them, however, is less significant than making sure there are enough resources available to meet the task. That’s the issue.
Re:Are NATO-ESDP relations still problematic? When the ESDP started one or two years ago, not many people expected something significant from that. But because of Mr Solana’s personality, being an outstanding politician, serious people could expect something really serious from the ESDP as well.For us looking from outside, it is also very important to have proper and pragmatic relations with both authorities. Let the two headquarters decide on how to co-operate because “Berlin Plus” was just a declaration. How it will work? Only time will show…When the ESDP started one or two years ago, not many people expected something significant from that. But because of Mr Solana’s personality, being an outstanding politician, serious people could expect something really serious from the ESDP as well.For us looking from outside, it is also very important to have proper and pragmatic relations with both authorities. Let the two headquarters decide on how to co-operate because “Berlin Plus” was just a declaration. How it will work? Only time will show…
When the ESDP started one or two years ago, not many people expected something significant from that. But because of Mr Solana’s personality, being an outstanding politician, serious people could expect something really serious from the ESDP as well.For us looking from outside, it is also very important to have proper and pragmatic relations with both authorities. Let the two headquarters decide on how to co-operate because “Berlin Plus” was just a declaration. How it will work? Only time will show…When the ESDP started one or two years ago, not many people expected something significant from that. But because of Mr Solana’s personality, being an outstanding politician, serious people could expect something really serious from the ESDP as well.For us looking from outside, it is also very important to have proper and pragmatic relations with both authorities. Let the two headquarters decide on how to co-operate because “Berlin Plus” was just a declaration. How it will work? Only time will show…
Re:Are NATO-ESDP relations still problematic? A bilateral feud between Cyprus and Turkey has been allowed to essentially block them. This matters less than might at first appear. I don’t think it matters that the EU and NATO don’t talk to each other very much in Brussels. After all, if I’m a member state, why should I expect my left hand to talk to my right hand? I’d expect them to work in co-ordination automatically without needless lost time talking amongst themselves. Operationally it matters in countries where the EU and NATO are operating like Afghanistan or Kosovo. If they can’t talk to each other there, then it can have a real impact and risk lives. To my mind this is now becoming intolerable; that this bilateral feud between Cyprus and Turkey should be allowed to prevent serious exchanges where lives can be affected.
A bilateral feud between Cyprus and Turkey has been allowed to essentially block them. This matters less than might at first appear. I don’t think it matters that the EU and NATO don’t talk to each other very much in Brussels. After all, if I’m a member state, why should I expect my left hand to talk to my right hand? I’d expect them to work in co-ordination automatically without needless lost time talking amongst themselves. Operationally it matters in countries where the EU and NATO are operating like Afghanistan or Kosovo. If they can’t talk to each other there, then it can have a real impact and risk lives. To my mind this is now becoming intolerable; that this bilateral feud between Cyprus and Turkey should be allowed to prevent serious exchanges where lives can be affected.
Re:Are NATO-ESDP relations still problematic? The question is interesting. But I wonder how the ESDP should be increasingly complementary and supportive with NATO. Indeed, to be cooperative two actors need to find basics to share. After 1999, the United States explicitly started using NATO as a means for their ‘imperial’ foreign policy, and this punched with the European vision of the world. Now, that American leadership is declining, Europe has a great opportunity to gain weight in international politics. But, it has to choose between two ways. First, Europe can reaffirm its identity reducing NATO to its true proportions as an organization set up exclusively for defense purposes. Or, second, Europe can aim at balancing the US role by assuming more responsibilities in the world, increasing thus its risky external projection. While in the first case Europe would substantially succeed in imprinting a new change in world politics, in the second Europe would make own American attitude so far and, in my view, it is doomed to fail too. Yet many observers push for this second way of cooperation. In this light, I am happy Europe has not yet the proper organization to follow this suicide.
The question is interesting. But I wonder how the ESDP should be increasingly complementary and supportive with NATO. Indeed, to be cooperative two actors need to find basics to share. After 1999, the United States explicitly started using NATO as a means for their ‘imperial’ foreign policy, and this punched with the European vision of the world. Now, that American leadership is declining, Europe has a great opportunity to gain weight in international politics. But, it has to choose between two ways. First, Europe can reaffirm its identity reducing NATO to its true proportions as an organization set up exclusively for defense purposes. Or, second, Europe can aim at balancing the US role by assuming more responsibilities in the world, increasing thus its risky external projection. While in the first case Europe would substantially succeed in imprinting a new change in world politics, in the second Europe would make own American attitude so far and, in my view, it is doomed to fail too. Yet many observers push for this second way of cooperation. In this light, I am happy Europe has not yet the proper organization to follow this suicide.
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