Miscellaneous
Recorded at the "Perspectives on European Foreign Policy in the Context of Current EU-Russia Relations" Workshop - Friday 11 January 2019 - Leiden University, Netherlands * * * Dr Nick Wright takes an institutional perspective and assesses that despite the current imperfections European foreign policy cooperation is still the best example of successful multilateralism in action. It is about the protection of a rules-based system and convincing others of the added value of such a system. In doing so, the EU still struggles with various internal challenges, which are not necessarily new but remain salient in understanding the EU´s foreign policy actions. Dr Wright elaborates on following three main challenges 1. The continuing institutional tensions that arise between different centres of foreign policy power and decision-making, especially with the increasing involvement of the European Council 2. The increased internal contestation between member states, the questioned salience of European foreign policy cooperation, and the more openly visible fragmentation that challenges the finding of common positions 3. Brexit and the visible apathy and lack of political will to find a compromise Read more about Nick Wright´s assessment of the role of member states in his most recent monograph “The EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy in France, Germany and the UK: Co-operation, Co-optation and Competition”. * * * Note: UACES does not take responsibility for opinions expressed in this recording. All opinions are those of the contributors.