A European foreign policy?

Abstract

The combined gross national products of the countries of the European Community are larger than those of the United States or the Soviet Union. The Community's total population is greater than that of either. Its armed forces include the weaponry of two nuclear powers and over two million men under arms. Its members have long and rich experience of world politics. They are closely associated within an integrated political community which is a pioneer in international cooperation. They represent one of the world's richest and oldest cultures. Why then is their combined voice in international affairs so weak? On all the great issues of today it is the United States and the Soviet Union which negotiate together to determine outcomes which affect many others. In some cases it may be claimed that the United States is also representing Western Europe in such negotiations as well as its own interests. But this is a somewhat theoretical notion, since all US administrations are inevitably concerned primarily with US interests. Indeed the most striking and deplorable feature of Europe's weakness today is the fact that its views carry so little weight with its principal ally in its conduct of an individualistic, high-profile and often combative foreign policy. In the actions it takes on most of the great issues of the day-the Middle East, Libya, Afghanistan, Central America, Angola, to name only a few-the United States pursues its own policies almost entirely without regard for European opinion, and usually without serious consultation. To a substantial extent, in modern world affairs, Europe stands on the sidelines: an observer, but not in any real sense a participant. The rhetoric of international diplomacy has spoken for many years of a 'partnership' between the United States and Europe. President Kennedy spoke of the 'twin pillars' of North America and Western Europe. Henry Kissinger inaugurated a 'year of Europe' and devoted a large amount of time and effort to consulting European allies (even if individually rather than collectively), however frustrating he found the process and however little notice he took of the views he heard. Since then, year after year, with monotonous insistence, political leaders, foreign ministers, parliamentarians, commentators and the general public call for more 'consultation' and better 'cooperation'. But, despite occasional desperate efforts to improve things, no real change takes place. Each part of the alliance continues to go its own way, with little regard for the views of the other. But the consequences of this process are quite different for each partner. The difference lies in the fact that the United States, with or without European support, plays a dominant role on the world stage; while on most of the issues of international politics today the views of Europe go largely unheard. Over the last few years understanding between the United States and Western Europe on foreign policy questions has perhaps never been worse. During that time glaring differences have appeared between the two on a succession of issues, including