EU External Action was set up under the EU Treaties as amended by Lisbon.
The EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is now involved widely in areas surrounding or affecting the EU. British troops are serving in most of the military operations.
The British approach to Libya, Russia, Iran and the Middle East has been handed over to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The EU External Action is also handling the Syrian situation. It is eerie how the UK press has just let this happen without mentioning it.
Few people in the UK seem to realise that the EU has also taken considerable control of the UN Security Council Seats of EU member states, including those of France and the UK.
At present any actions under the CFSP require unanimous approval from the EU Council, each country having a veto. However, vetoes do not frame and direct policy, they are a desperate measure to stop action. The real control, the planning and execution of foreign and security policy, is now an EU function.
EU External Action differs from membership of the UN and NATO because it is now necessary for the UK to consult the EU before taking any independent action whereas the UK could take independent action without consulting the UN or NATO.
So what is wrong with the EU running our foreign policy and defence? What is wrong is that the purpose of the EU foreign and security policies is expansion.
This is codified in the Treaty on European Union. Art 21(1): "The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider world:"
As a result the EU has grown until it shares borders with countries that are antagonistic to EU culture and ideas. Its outer borders are destined to be the source of continuous friction and war because, in the eyes of its neighbours, it is an aggressive, expansionary empire. At present the Common Security and Defence Policy has been derailed by persistent British vetoes but after a Remain vote in the EU Referendum it will be possible to enact the parts of the Treaties that create an EU Army. The EU will then be able to intervene militarily under the EU flag.
The EU has a deep problem because at its heart it has a Germanic philosophy of being unable to accept that other people must be allowed their own lives and cultures. That you are convinced that your way of life is rational and apparently the best way of life is no reason for not respecting others. The principle objective of an enlightened foreign policy is peace and trade, not thrusting EU ideals onto your neighbours. It is right to fear that the EU, for all its apparently high intentions, is just a fourth Reich.
As has been pointed out elsewhere, the EU is in a state of rapid change. If the Eurozone (Eurogroup) forms a political union by 2025 there will be pressure for operation of EU foreign and defence policy as if the EU were a country rather than an alliance of states.
The hand over of foreign policy to the EU was agreed in the following Articles in the Treaties as amended by Lisbon:
Treaty on European Union:
Art 16(6) "The Foreign Affairs Council shall elaborate the Union’s external action on the basis of strategic guidelines laid down by the European Council and ensure that the Union’s action is consistent."
Art 24(1): " The Union’s competence in matters of common foreign and security policy shall cover all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union’s security, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common defence. "
Art 24(3): "The Member States shall support the Union’s external and security policy actively and unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity and shall comply with the Union’s action in this area.
The Member States shall work together to enhance and develop their mutual political solidarity. They shall refrain from any action which is contrary to the interests of the Union or likely to impair its effectiveness as a cohesive force in international relations."
Art 28(3): "Whenever there is any plan to adopt a national position or take national action pursuant to a decision as referred to in paragraph 1, information shall be provided by the Member State concerned in time to allow, if necessary, for prior consultations within the Council. The obligation to provide prior information shall not apply to measures which are merely a national transposition of Council decisions."
Art 34(2): "Member States which are also members of the United Nations Security Council will concert and keep the other Member States and the High Representative fully informed. Member States which are members of the Security Council will, in the execution of their functions, defend the positions and the interests of the Union, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter.
When the Union has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations Security Council agenda, those Member States which sit on the Security Council shall request that the High Representative be invited to present the Union’s position."
9/5/16
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| EU CSDP Missions Currently Underway |
The British approach to Libya, Russia, Iran and the Middle East has been handed over to the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The EU External Action is also handling the Syrian situation. It is eerie how the UK press has just let this happen without mentioning it.
Few people in the UK seem to realise that the EU has also taken considerable control of the UN Security Council Seats of EU member states, including those of France and the UK.
At present any actions under the CFSP require unanimous approval from the EU Council, each country having a veto. However, vetoes do not frame and direct policy, they are a desperate measure to stop action. The real control, the planning and execution of foreign and security policy, is now an EU function.
EU External Action differs from membership of the UN and NATO because it is now necessary for the UK to consult the EU before taking any independent action whereas the UK could take independent action without consulting the UN or NATO.
So what is wrong with the EU running our foreign policy and defence? What is wrong is that the purpose of the EU foreign and security policies is expansion.
This is codified in the Treaty on European Union. Art 21(1): "The Union’s action on the international scene shall be guided by the principles which have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, and which it seeks to advance in the wider world:"
As a result the EU has grown until it shares borders with countries that are antagonistic to EU culture and ideas. Its outer borders are destined to be the source of continuous friction and war because, in the eyes of its neighbours, it is an aggressive, expansionary empire. At present the Common Security and Defence Policy has been derailed by persistent British vetoes but after a Remain vote in the EU Referendum it will be possible to enact the parts of the Treaties that create an EU Army. The EU will then be able to intervene militarily under the EU flag.
The EU has a deep problem because at its heart it has a Germanic philosophy of being unable to accept that other people must be allowed their own lives and cultures. That you are convinced that your way of life is rational and apparently the best way of life is no reason for not respecting others. The principle objective of an enlightened foreign policy is peace and trade, not thrusting EU ideals onto your neighbours. It is right to fear that the EU, for all its apparently high intentions, is just a fourth Reich.
As has been pointed out elsewhere, the EU is in a state of rapid change. If the Eurozone (Eurogroup) forms a political union by 2025 there will be pressure for operation of EU foreign and defence policy as if the EU were a country rather than an alliance of states.
The hand over of foreign policy to the EU was agreed in the following Articles in the Treaties as amended by Lisbon:
Treaty on European Union:
Art 16(6) "The Foreign Affairs Council shall elaborate the Union’s external action on the basis of strategic guidelines laid down by the European Council and ensure that the Union’s action is consistent."
Art 24(1): " The Union’s competence in matters of common foreign and security policy shall cover all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union’s security, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common defence. "
Art 24(3): "The Member States shall support the Union’s external and security policy actively and unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity and shall comply with the Union’s action in this area.
The Member States shall work together to enhance and develop their mutual political solidarity. They shall refrain from any action which is contrary to the interests of the Union or likely to impair its effectiveness as a cohesive force in international relations."
Art 28(3): "Whenever there is any plan to adopt a national position or take national action pursuant to a decision as referred to in paragraph 1, information shall be provided by the Member State concerned in time to allow, if necessary, for prior consultations within the Council. The obligation to provide prior information shall not apply to measures which are merely a national transposition of Council decisions."
Art 34(2): "Member States which are also members of the United Nations Security Council will concert and keep the other Member States and the High Representative fully informed. Member States which are members of the Security Council will, in the execution of their functions, defend the positions and the interests of the Union, without prejudice to their responsibilities under the provisions of the United Nations Charter.
When the Union has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations Security Council agenda, those Member States which sit on the Security Council shall request that the High Representative be invited to present the Union’s position."
9/5/16
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