The European Convention and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). From Athens to Thessaloniki
The European Convention and the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). From Athens to Thessaloniki

Summary/Abstract: The Iraq war and the deep divisions that it has caused coincide with the EU’s ongoing process to reshape through the European Convention its institutional architecture and decision-making in the context of enlargement. The CFSP will be the litmus test for the political will of the EU. There can be no progress without commitment of the necessary financial resources. The forthcoming European Council of Thessaloniki on 20-21 June 2003 will be of significant importance for the future of the enlarged EU, as it will make decisions affecting three vital policy areas: First, its institutional architecture reflected in the European Constitution that will be submitted by the European Convention; second, CFSP and in particular its "security strategy" in the post-Iraq era that will submit the High Representative for CFSP; third, the future of the Western Balkans which is an important testing ground of EU’s political will and capacity to handle its vital issues. If the EU fails at this very moment to adopt an efficient institutional structure, there is a real risk of becoming a large economic area of political inertia and geopolitical irrelevance. The Iraq crisis has shown that a successful economic integration cannot be a convincing substitute for addressing security needs. If the answers expected and needed cannot be given by the European Convention and the ensuing Intergovernmental Conference, other avenues and structures will be sought for outside of them.

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