The credibility of the European Union’s common foreign policy has suffered serious blows this autumn. The EU’s slow reactions to human rights violations, for example in Belarus and regarding the situation of the Uyghurs in China, reveal the Union’s inability to make sufficiently swift and forceful foreign policy decisions.
“Human rights lie at the very core of European values. It is shameful that the EU has been toothless in the face of serious human rights violations and has not been able to act quickly and credibly enough to condemn them,” criticises JEF Finland President Iiris Asunmaa.
The EU’s foreign policy processes are slow and inefficient. The biggest problem is decision-making that requires unanimity among member states, which means that even a single member state can block, for example, the adoption of a resolution or the imposition of sanctions in the Foreign Affairs Council. Member states also use their veto power to advance their own goals, which often ties together otherwise unrelated foreign policy matters. This further hampers the efficiency of decision-making.
“The capacity of the common foreign policy to act must be strengthened immediately by introducing qualified majority voting in the Foreign Affairs Council’s decision-making,” demands Asunmaa.
The EU represents more than 400 million citizens and forms one of the largest economic areas in the world. As global power becomes more multipolar and fragmented, the EU would have a genuine opportunity to advance its own values around the world. However, this opportunity is being squandered by the Union’s inability to take a stand, and by prioritising member state unanimity over value-based, impactful global politics.
“Strengthening the common foreign policy is an existential question for the EU. The EU has what it takes to take a leading role in promoting democracy, human rights and sustainable development in international politics. Member states and the European Parliament must act decisively to strengthen the common foreign policy,” states Asunmaa.
For further information:
Iiris Asunmaa
President
JEF Finland
050 918 7390