Brussels, 29/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - A new report from the international think-tank European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) published on 28 January states that just like over the previous five years, the EU's ability to influence its neighbours diminished in 2015.
“The EU's impotence in the face of instability outside its borders provided a reminder of the necessity - and the difficulty - of shaping a long-term, coherent, and strategic foreign policy to limit the impact of this turbulence at home”, the report states, highlighting the refugee crisis. According to ECFR, the EU's failure to formulate a strong foreign policy response to the crises of 2015 is due in part to the domestic politics consuming policymakers' attention. ECFR regrets that the EU, which has the potential to make a difference in the fight against the symptoms and causes of the refugee crisis, did not rise to the challenge.
The hope of surrounding Europe with a ring of friends has given way to a reality that is surrounded by a “ring of fire” and “this picture may worsen in the coming year”, ECFR warns. The think-tank also considers that Europe's influence slipped with regard to the great powers of Turkey and Russia, and that “their authoritarian governments are increasingly in a position to influence Europe”, as its policymakers are forced to turn to them for cooperation on different subjects. According to ECFR, the EU's relations with the Middle East and North Africa were areas where the EU performed least effectively in 2015.
By contrast, the report states that “the EU played a pivotal role in the diplomatic triumph of the year” - the agreement on the Iranian nuclear programme. “The negotiations showed EU diplomacy at its best, with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and her team taking a central role and the larger member states playing complementary parts”, the report states. ECFR considers that the EU was more effective in its relations with Russia, especially as regards the diplomatic measures and sanctions against Russia.
Furthermore, the trend for leadership coming from the member states rather than from Brussels became clearer than ever in 2015, according to the report. Just as in 2014, ECFR underlines the dominant role of Germany, a “leader” country in terms of foreign policy - ahead of the Netherlands (which stands out this year in comparison with last), Sweden and the UK. By contrast, Lithuania and Poland had a weak influence.
The report is available at: http://ecfr.eu/scorecard/2016 . (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)
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