Of Swiss Army Knives and Diplomacy. A Review of the Union's Diplomatic Capabilities. JMWP No. 33.01, April 2001

Güssgen, Florian (2001) Of Swiss Army Knives and Diplomacy. A Review of the Union's Diplomatic Capabilities. JMWP No. 33.01, April 2001.

Abstract

The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) has revitalised the European Union’s attempts to establish a veritable Common Foreign and Security Policy. It necessitates a re-appraisal of the Union’s foreign policy capabilities. An analysis should be conducted in respect to military capabilities, diplomatic capabilities, and legitimacy. This working paper merely explores to what extent ESDP enhances the Union’s diplomatic capacity to plan cohesive, sustainable and effective foreign policies. I focus on the performance of three elements of the European foreign policy-making system: The High Representative for the CFSP, the Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit, and the Political and Security Committee (COPS). I show that each element has developed in a manner which - despite inherent limitations - increases the Union’s foreign policy-planning ability. As a disclaimer it should be added that the working paper is neither conceptual nor theoretical in nature.