Human Security and Coherence within the EU: The Case of the 2006 Small Arms Conference (original) (raw)
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Human Security and Coherence within the EU: the Case of the 2006 UN Small Arms Conference
2008
In recent years, the EU has reiterated its commitment to play a greater global role and actively participate in international organizations. In particular, the EU has pledged to work toward the strengthening of the United Nations. The EU’s influence on negotiations at the UN can be affected by the EU ability to “speak with one voice”, to demonstrate coherence.
In May 2011, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed Resolution 65/276 that enhances the European Union (EU) institutional mode of representation in the UNGA and other multilateral fora operating under its auspices. This followed an earlier, failed attempt that caused much embarrassment and political turmoil in the EU. The article examines the politics of this resolution, tracing its background logic, its origins and the political interactions in the UN that eventually led to its almost consensual embracement. It accounts for the failure in the first stage of the negotiations and how the EU responded to it, adjusting its bargaining strategy accordingly. This case study contributes to the better understanding of the links between intra-EU coherence and EU effectiveness as an international actor. We posit that there is one additional dimension of EU coherence not fully captured in the relevant literature. We distinguish between genuine coherence and generated coherence. The former entails homogeneity, or at least a significant degree of a priori convergence among EU member-states. The latter refers to EU positions that have emerged after hard and protracted intra-EU negotiations. The two types differ in the degree of flexibility bestowed on the EU in international negotiations.
European Law Journal, 2009
This is the first volume published in an exciting new peer-reviewed series: Studies in EU External Relations (series editor, Prof. M. Maresceau, University of Ghent), which aims to provide insights into legal and political aspects and issues of the EU's relations with third countries or other regional or international organisations. No similar outlet currently exists for works of such scope and depth dedicated to this particular field of EU law. The series therefore promises to be a highly welcome addition to existing literature for both practitioners and academics alike, and Rasch's comprehensive account of how the EU is represented at the United Nations (UN) most certainly does not disappoint. The author provides an enlightening inside-track view into the way in which various EU interests are defended in this forum, the aim being to examine through which means, and how successfully, coherent EU policies in the field of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) might be said to be achieved at the UN. The book is conveniently structured into two parts, starting with a qualitative analysis of EU coordination activities at the UN, before proceeding on the basis of a quantitative approach in order to discern whether, or not, the EU in fact operates as a unitary actor at the UN. So, does the book deliver its promise? In terms of the aim to provide insight into the 'functioning' of EU external representation, it most certainly does. The reader is presented with a comprehensive and inquisitive account of how the EU Member States act in seeking to guard common interests in an often highly confrontational, fast-paced and politically pressurised environment. Focusing on EU representation at the UN certainly provides the author with an apt study object and a sensible delimitation, offering a practical setting in which certain issues and concerns related to the coherence of EU external relations as a whole can be brought to the fore clearly: on one hand, the UN shares a number of the same ideals as the EU, and deals accordingly with many issues to which the EU Member States also coordinate their activities under the terms of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) at regional level. Furthermore, the way in which the UN works in practice today is highly conducive towards group action by several countries to defend common interests. As such, the idea of the EU working together as a group fits well with the day-today realities of life on the East River. On the other hand, however, the UN forms a microcosm in its own right, providing a clearly state-centric environment in which the Member States are placed in the driving seat of policy-making. National interests remain the primary force behind EU second pillar policies at the UN, with marginal influence from either the working groups of the Council in Brussels or the on-the-spot Council Liaison Office-in spite of the specific duties under Article 19 TEU (obligation to coordinate action in international organisations) and Article 20 TEU (Member State's duty to cooperate in ensuring the compliance with and implementation of common positions and joint actions adopted by the Council). Instructions to Member State representatives mainly come directly from their national governments. This in turn gives rise to a national filtering of signals as to
The EU @ the UN: Multilateralism in a New Key?
2014
This paper is about the EU at the UN. It has three aims. In the first part of the paper, we briefly describe the EU’s historical and contemporary role at the UN. In the second part of the paper, we analyse five key issues which all are related to the EU’s role at the UN: values, role/status, identity, international society and UN reform. We begin by asking whether values are European, western or universal. We continue by discussing the EU as a middle power – a fairly atypical middle power we hasten to add. We then turn to the contested notion of EU interests. Subsequently we examine the EU’s policy on UN reform. The last issue concerns the EU, the UN and international society. In the third part of the paper, we conclude by emphasising that it is time for the scholarly community to catch up with foreign policy practice. In this context we point out that there is a need for a research programme on EU politics vis-à-vis the UN.
The EU Polity and Foreign Policy Coherence
Journal of Contemporary European Research, 2012
The present article examines the character of the EU as a polity by looking at the mechanisms it employs to ensure the coherence of its foreign policies. It first contrasts three ideal polity types. The methods selected to ensure coherence in foreign policy actions differ according to each of the three polity types. The article then explores how the EU ensures coherence through institutional reform, and subsequently looks in detail at two illustrative policy fields: aid sanctions and civilian crisis-management.
The Politics of UNGA Resolution 65/276: A Tale of the EU Performance in the UNGA
2017
The passing of the Resolution 65/276 in May 2011 created a conducive environment for the European Union (EU) to upgrade its political status in the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The first EU attempt failed but the EU came back in May 2011 with a substantially revised draft and after a period of protracted and intensive negotiations managed to ensure the almost consensual endorsement of the resolution. The contribution examines the EU performance in this important case study. It emphasises the negotiation dynamics between the two stages, which requires a more in-depth analysis of the criteria used to evaluate the EU performance in each stage and the parameters that condition the EU international actions.
Report on the Analysis and Critical Assessment of EU Engagement in UN Bodies
This report presents the outcome of the analysis and critical assessment of EU human rights engagement in UN bodies. The EU has committed itself in the Treaty on the European Union to ‘promote multilateral solutions to common problems, in particular in the framework of the United Nations.’ In light of this provision, and taking into account the considerable challenges the EU-UN cooperation encounters, the present report aims at four goals. Firstly, to map the long-standing and multifaceted engagement of the EU within and towards UN human rights bodies. Secondly, to critically assess the EU’s engagement in the UN from the perspective of both its policy and institutions. Thirdly, to identify specific and structural flaws in the EU’s approach to human rights at the UN. Fourthly, to find creative ways of enhancing the EU’s position, role, inclusion in and impact upon these UN bodies.
Making policies work EU-UN cooperation: confronting change in the multilateral system
Making policies work EU-UN cooperation: confronting change in the multilateral system, 2019
This paper looks at the role of the European Union (EU) and its member states in the United Nations (UN). It examines opportunities for deepening EU-UN cooperation in the years to come, in light of the 2019 reform of the UN development system, and taking into account the EU's evolving role as a global player. The multilateral system, with the UN at its core, is changing. The normative uniformity of the post-Cold War international system is fading as its centre of gravity shifts away from the West. The EU remains a stable presence within the UN, but is faced with its own fragmentation which weakens its ability to defend the EU's agenda for a rules-based multilateral system. Collectively, the EU and its member states are the single largest financial contributor to the UN system. Yet, the EU struggles to coherently leverage its funding relationship with the UN for greater influence and stronger cooperation. The prospect of improvements in the UN's in-country architecture can open doors for more effective collaboration on the ground. However, the UN reforms also reveal how funding patterns, including those of EU institutions and member states, help maintain the fragmentation of the UN system. At the start of a new political cycle, the EU faces critical choices in its external action. The EU's continued commitment to a 'rules-based multilateralism' provides a good basis for its engagement in the UN. It does not, however, alter the EU's power and influence within the UN. The success of this ambitious agenda will depend on the EU's capacity to act jointly, on its strategic autonomy, and on its ability to set the tone in both the United Nations General Assembly (