European diplomacy finds a conductor
(BRUXELLES2) In a few days, the bell will ring for the new High Representative of the EU, her first European Council. But certainly the Italian won the first round: to impose herself, gently, as a leader.
A successful choice (so far)
Europe has found in Federica Mogherini, the conductor it has sorely missed until now. Matteo Renzi, the President of the Italian Council was not mistaken in wanting to propel his Minister of Foreign Affairs to Brussels. Stubborn, without moving an iota, he had surprised by his determination, including in the peninsula, to want this position for Italy. As a journalist confided to me, rather skeptical about this choice at the start, he recognizes it today "he was right". There is both a very clear change in tone and conviction and a greater public presence.
A presence in front of the press
The key to this success is due to several factors. First of all, the very presence of Federica Mogherini throughout the last meeting of EU Ministers, Foreign Affairs and Defence, on 17 and 18 November, her involvement as well as her report to the press - three times during the meeting - bear witness to this. The High Representative intends to resume her leading role in matters of foreign affairs but also defense and security, which have been largely neglected in recent years. Last Friday, she made a point of chairing the Council of Development Ministers, often devolved to the rotating presidency, because considered minor, thus showing that she did not intend to neglect any aspect of her responsibility: from diplomacy to the military, passing through humanitarian aid and development.
Change the reflection method
Then, his will to change the working methods, even if it seems an organizational detail, is not superfluous. The advice of foreign ministers has so far been reduced to a pile of statements of "concern" or "extreme concern" without really prioritizing. And each minister hastened to say all the good things he thought about national politics rather than European politics. " If each time we put the same points as last month, the agenda is no longer manageable. Discussions between ministers go in circles and do not serve much purpose commented, recently, an experienced European diplomat, familiar with these ministerial meetings, thus acknowledging that the change of method was necessary. As for the Councils of EU Defense Ministers, it must be recognized that they hummed along with a set of reports adopted, to say the least abstruse, without really drawing any political framework (unlike the NATO meetings For example). Raising attention, energizing the debate, allowing ministers to express themselves is therefore a necessary step.
Defense is not forgotten
Finally, his claim to promote battlegroups as CSDP missions/operations as an instrument of this policy is not superfluous. Defense Europe in general, and the CSDP in particular, have suffered in recent years from a tropism of failure. The lack of will on the part of the Member States, such as financial difficulties, have often been put forward as a reason for "not acting" instead of seeking to act and see how the difficulties could be resolved or circumvented. In this respect, Defense Europe has a definite advantage: there is, on "paper", almost the entire range necessary to allow some to move forward faster than others: (which does not does not exist for other "sovereign" policies, such as in economic or tax matters) vanguard group, enhanced cooperation, permanent enhanced cooperation structure, etc. As for the opportunities to act, they are not lacking. And Europe's indecision, like its lack of presence on the international scene, if they continue, could be as damaging to the European continent, just as much as the current economic crisis.
A European dynamism that has limits
One should not dream and however not project disproportionate ambitions. A woman, even intelligent and determined, even charming and respected by other ministers, cannot change what remains structural. Foreign policy is first and foremost the product of a history and a geographical position. And it is at the level of each State that this foreign policy is first decided... Which leads to singular differences in the positions of the Member States on various subjects of foreign policy. But that does not deprive the European level of an effect. On the contrary, most capitals are well aware that the division of positions does not generally facilitate in the medium term, and even in the short term, their world rank.
Lay the elements of the reconstruction piece by piece
This data, the new High Representative knows it well for having been Minister of Foreign Affairs. But unlike its predecessor, it does not make it a blocking point but an asset. Determined to play her full role, particularly as coordinator of the Commission's foreign policy, you shouldn't trust her smiling or very friendly side. F. Mogherini knows what she wants and seems to want to lay down, piece by piece, the elements of what will first allow her to rebuild internally a capacity to act and then to drive policy externally more sustainably. European. We won't complain about it.
Get the musicians to play together
Undeniably, the European External Policy has found what it lacked — a conductor — allowing all the "musicians" to play their part, in a just a little more harmonious... and ultimately more effective whole. It now remains to transform the test, after its promising beginnings...
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)