THE EU NEEDS A GLOBAL STRATEGY

By Paavo Vayrynen Reprint | | Print |

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HELSINKI, Oct 25 2010 (IPS) - The European Union is developing strategic thinking as a basis for its policies.

We have several sectoral strategies for our internal policies. Some intersectoral strategies have also been developed. The 2020 strategy covers all internal policy areas with relevance to our economic performance.

In our external relations we have numerous strategies for different countries and regions. We have selected certain strategic partner countries with whom we are trying to intensify our overall relations. Some thematic strategy papers also exist. In the development policy field we call our 2007 strategy document the European Consensus on Development.

Having now begun implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, we have entered a stage where we have to create more comprehensive strategies for our external policies as well. This is what I had in mind when I proposed on 14 June 2010 at the EU Development Ministers meeting in Luxembourg that a global strategy should be formulated for the European Union.

According to the provisions of the Lisbon Treaty we have to create consistency and coherence between the different areas of external relations and the Union’s other policies. Thus there must be consistency and coherence between the internal and external strategies as well.

Our global strategy must be an answer to the growing challenges raised by globalisation. We have to find the ways and means to protect and further develop our welfare societies in the context of ever-tightening global competition while at the same time shouldering our share of solving mankind’s common problems.

Our global strategy must be based on our common values and interests. We have to ask ourselves what kind of world we are trying to develop and what our goals are. And we have to consider how we can most effectively promote those goals.

The European Union has often been described as an economic giant but a political dwarf. This is not true.

The EU is the leading political power in the world, especially in three key areas: trade, development, and environmental policy. These are our strengths. In these areas, the external relations policy is in many ways linked with the Union’s internal policies, including agricultural, environmental, and energy policies. Global developments and solutions have an impact on our economic environment, industrial competitiveness, and employment.

These elements can serve as a basis for a consistent policy provided for in the Lisbon Treaty. This policy could be used effectively to defend and promote our common interests and values both in the external and in the internal policies of the Union. t. By emphasising its role in economic, environmental, and development policy, the Union will strengthen its global position, which will benefit both the member states and our citizens. This will have a far-reaching impact on our security as well.

We have to shape a comprehensive global strategy for the EU, step by step. Let me give three examples of what could and should, in my opinion, be done in the near future in development policy and in other closely-related policy areas.

A good example of an intersectoral approach covering both internal and external policies is given in a recent publication by the Commission, “How the EU’s Agriculture and Development Policies Fit Together”. The document proves that the EU’s agricultural and trade policies are well aligned with our development policies.

Now we should take a step forward and try to develop for the Union an integrated food security strategy where our development and trade policies would support the goals of our agricultural policies (CAP) and vice versa. This would be possible if we used our development funding effectively to support food production in our partner countries for their domestic demand and for the growing markets in the framework of South-South trade. The EU food security strategy should provide guidance for our future CAP reforms and it should lead to new initiatives in the global trade and development policy negotiations.

The EU 2020 strategy is meant to strengthen the Union’s economic performance. Unfortunately, the external dimension is only briefly mentioned in the strategy document. This is one of the reasons for preparing a trade policy strategy for the EU. In my opinion this document should form a wider external economic relations strategy and should be anchored in the internal policies to improve our overall economic competitiveness. The economic aspects of development, climate change, and other environmental policies must also be taken into account.

Climate change and other global environmental policies have a powerful economic impact on us. Measures to limit emissions and financial support for climate change mitigation and adaptation burden both our industries and citizens. We provide close to 60 percent of all official development assistance (ODA) and most other development funding. We have made preferential trade policy solutions a part of our development policy. All this should be taken into account in our overall external economic policies.

We have begun preparations for a possible review of the 2005 European Consensus on Development. In my opinion the updated Consensus should have a more political and strategic nature.

This new EU development policy strategy should be based on the comprehensive approach to environment and development created in the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The EU should aim to effectively eradicate poverty and promote ecologically, economically, and socially-sustainable development all over the world. This is what we committed ourselves to do in the Lisbon Treaty.

Modern development policy covers both developing and developed countries and includes all aspects of life and all policy areas. In this context, as a part of social sustainability, we can best deal also with the sensitive issues of security, good governance, rule of law, democracy, and human rights. Peace and stability are an essential condition for economic growth and development. With a more comprehensive approach we could more effectively promote sustainable development.

These three strategies could serve as cornerstones for the comprehensive global EU strategy to be formulated by the European Council, Commission, and Parliament.

By creating a comprehensive global strategy the EU can effectively influence global development. Our basic values and interests are very close to those of the United States. For this reason the US is our most important strategic partner.

We have already launched intensified transatlantic cooperation for sustainable development. On the basis of our comprehensive global strategy and the simultaneous parallel strategy reform of the US, we can further deepen our cooperation for the benefit of all mankind. (END/COPYRIGHT IPS)

(*) Paavo Väyrynen is Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development.