A more interesting question for us is where, oh where is the Common Foreign Policy a.k.a. European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Where is the wondrous Baroness Ashton? Why is Europe not speaking with one voice but leaving the problem in that shocking traditional way to individual countries to deal with?
Well you may ask. It seems that the act was not got together again. This time, the fault lies with Germany (France having some traditional interests in North Africa). Germany was one of the abstentions in the UN Security Council and was, indeed, at fault in dragging out the whole process at the UN. Here is an explanation as to why this might have happened with heavy emphasis on internal party politics.
Der Spiegel thinks this could damage Germany's international reputation. And we thought the day of those national problems and competitions has gone.
Is this not due to the informal but firmly rooted concept that Eastern Europe and the Balkans is the field for Germany's Drang nach Osten and the French can be indulged by winking at their aspirations for a similar sphere of influence, a "Mediterranean Union" , including large territories of the former French empire?
ReplyDeleteWhether engaged in the Balkans or North Africa, British forces will be the servants of one or other concept. Either way, the EU wins .
That was my immediate thought as well.
ReplyDeleteThat was my immediate thought as well. To go further it is probably just an attempt to get us used to the idea of the British and French working together in military adventures so when they do ramp up the common EU foreign policy it will be possible to portray it as a natural continuation of what we have already been doing. This recent military operation is most likely to be just taking advantage of the situation to continue the policy of integration on display here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11670247
ReplyDeleteIs that what he meant? I didn't read it like that, rather I took it as a comment about accepted "spheres of influence" of the larger European powers.
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