The EU and its Balkan Entanglements

Essay , 2006 , 11 Seiten

Politik - Thema: Europäische Union

The Balkan wars of the 1990s and NATO's military intervention in Kosovo at the end of the past decade can be seen as two major catalysts which have triggered various readjustments within the EU's system of foreign policy-making.

Materially, the EU has been forced to reshape its relations with the countries of South-Eastern Europe, but it has also adapted its post-Cold War foreign policy tools more generally. In terms of overall political strategies, the adoption of new security doctrines (such as the Petersberg tasks) and the implementation of peace-building initiatives for the Western Balkans (such as the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe or the joint police mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina) have been widely acknowledged as both internal and external successes for the EU.

Institutionally, the member states have demonstrated a commitment to reinforce their visibility and influence in world politics by establishing the position of a High Representative for the CFSP, a Political and Security Committee (PSC) and a Policy Planning and Early Warning Unit. It was also recognised that restricting CFSP to an adhoc arrangement of informal or reactive policies would not be sufficient if the EU's declared ambition to become a significant international actor was to be taken seriously.

Still, it might well be argued that CFSP experienced a considerable boost only after other actors had criticised the EU's seeming complacence and self-limitation to the role of a 'paymaster' in international security affairs. Partly as a reaction to the mistakes made between 1991 and 1995, a specifically 'European' approach to preventing and managing security crises appears to have emerged. Ultimately, the EU has learnt a lot from its Balkan entanglements.

In this essay, I will first trace back member states' different convictions as to how the resurgence of nationalist conflict and outbreak of violence in Croatia and Bosnia should be tackled. Secondly, I will outline how these experiences have led the EU to adapt its traditional policies conducted within Pillar One to the objective of developing a more cohesive CFSP within Pillar Two. Some lessons which have not yet been translated into policy changes will be discussed as well. Based on these insights, I will conclude that the EU has generally been successful in turning its past failure into a future potential, although a number of problems remain.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Assessing the EU's Past Failure and Future Potential of Conflict Management in the Western Balkans: Permanence of Lacking Capabilities or Emergence of a Distinctive ‘European' Approach?
• European Views on Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management, 1991-1995: Clear Objectives, but Multiple Strategies
• The Emerging Nexus between 'Soft' and 'Hard' Power Policies: Does the EU have a Comparative Advantage in Projecting Regional Stability?
• Kosovo and Beyond: Recognising the Need for Further Substantive and Institutional Adjustments in the EU's Approach to Conflict Resolution
• Conclusion: Lessons Learnt or Opportunities Missed?
• Abbreviations
• References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the EU's evolving approach to conflict management in the Western Balkans, focusing on the lessons learned from the region's turbulent past. It analyzes the EU's response to the Balkan wars of the 1990s and its subsequent efforts to promote stability and peace in the region. The essay explores the EU's evolving foreign policy tools, including the development of a more cohesive Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the integration of 'hard' and 'soft' power instruments.

• The EU's response to the Balkan wars of the 1990s and its subsequent efforts to promote stability and peace in the region.
• The EU's evolving foreign policy tools, including the development of a more cohesive Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
• The integration of 'hard' and 'soft' power instruments in the EU's approach to conflict management.
• The challenges and opportunities facing the EU in its efforts to promote stability and peace in the Western Balkans.
• The EU's role in the region's future development and its potential to contribute to a more stable and prosperous Western Balkans.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The essay begins by outlining the EU's initial response to the Balkan wars of the 1990s, highlighting the challenges posed by the conflict and the EU's internal divisions. It analyzes the EU's policy inconsistencies and the lack of a coherent strategy, particularly in the early stages of the conflict. The essay then explores the EU's subsequent efforts to develop a more effective and unified approach to conflict management, examining the evolution of its foreign policy tools and the integration of 'hard' and 'soft' power instruments. The essay concludes by assessing the EU's progress in promoting stability and peace in the Western Balkans, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key themes and keywords of this essay include the European Union, conflict management, Western Balkans, foreign policy, Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), 'hard' power, 'soft' power, stability, peace, and regional development. The essay examines the EU's evolving approach to conflict management in the Western Balkans, focusing on the lessons learned from the region's turbulent past. It analyzes the EU's response to the Balkan wars of the 1990s and its subsequent efforts to promote stability and peace in the region. The essay explores the EU's evolving foreign policy tools, including the development of a more cohesive CFSP and the integration of 'hard' and 'soft' power instruments.

• Hochschule: London School of Economics (Department of International Relations)
• Autor: Dipl.-Pol., MSc (IR) Jan-Henrik Petermann (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2006
• Seiten: 11
• Katalognummer: V182616
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656062561
• ISBN (Buch): 9783656062318
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: balkan, entanglements