Brussels, 04/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - According to the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), the influence of EU and member states' foreign policy in the world, and European performance in 2012, show timid signs of stabilisation and resilience. In the view of the ECFR, Europe pulled through well in 2012, despite an internal and external environment that was full of challenges. The ECFR states that, overall, when the European Union made progress in 2012 - in particular in regions such as China and Russia, on its neighbourhood, and on the E3+3 with Iran - it is because the policy was developed in previous years and the member states worked together with the EU institutions in implementing it. Thus European policies on relations with the United States on Iran and the proliferation of arms and on the Syrian conflict, and on Kosovo and the relations with the eastern neighbourhood on trade, are considered the most outstanding policies in 2012. Europe should, on the other hand, make endeavours in the reform of the security sector, relations with China on the reform of global governance and Tibet, and also in relations with Turkey.
In the ECFR's view, although relations with Russia have deteriorated, the unity of Europe and the consistency of its policy towards Russia have improved. While there are signs of modest improvement in relations with China, unity between the 27 EU member states has continued to be rare, even though it began to be seen in their trade differences with Beijing and with regard to human rights. Europe has also slightly improved its performance regarding the United States - in particular with the cooperation with Washington on regional and global issues. In the eastern neighbourhood and southern Mediterranean, and with the countries of the eastern partnership, the European performance has been mixed.
Although Germany, France and the United Kingdom are “leader” countries in terms of foreign policy, the Franco-German couple no longer exists in this area, the study highlights. It stresses that the role of Sweden and the Netherlands is becoming increasingly important. The ECFR also underlines that after two difficult first years the European External Action Service has begun to operate better in 2012, even if it is far from having reached its full potential. Its diplomatic culture is also improving.
The study can be consulted on: http://ecfr.eu/scorecard/2013 . (CG/transl.fl)