Can Europe create an effective common and implimentable foreign and security policy?

At the end of November 2011, EU decided to hold high level talks to review the situtation in Syria and decide on what Europe could do. The host of the meeting was France and its Foreign Minister Allen Juppe had recently visited Turkey and witnessed Turkey’s importance for the implementation of any sanctions that could be adopted by EU towards that country. As a result he saw it necessary to invite Turkey to this meeting and the invitation was blocked by the so-called Cyprus Republic.

This latest event showes that countries that have the capability and willingness to take action on behalf of Europe can be impeded by a small and irresponsible member in complete disregard of Europe’s interests.  Within Europe we have seen that historic prejudiceses, differing national interests and neighborhood quarrels make it very difficult for EU to reach  common policies. We have witnessed these difficulties particularly during the breakdown of Yugoslavia and some of these difficulties still continue.
 
Outside Europe EU’s incapability for joint decision and action has forced major European powers to initiate or join actions either in coalition with the United States or within  NATO. The latter organisation, in effect, has assumed global roles and responsibilities particularly after the adoption of the Istanbul Declaration of 2004. If Europe must defend its interests globally, it is obvious this cannot be achieved with the prevailing constraints of decision making within current EU structures.

Therefore, a new dialogue and action platform will be necessary that would allow capable and willing countries of Europe to come together and consider what they can do in the world and how they can defend their particular interests, if Europe wants to become a globally important player. This cannot be achieved within EU where one single country can block action. In NATO they have to act in unison with the United States. Such a de facto platform could be established among countries that are significant international  players as Turkey which is an esstential European country with global interests but it is not yet a member of EU. Pending the materialization of its membership, a platform consisting of Turkey, United Kingdom, France, Germany (with limited role), Italy and Spain  could be initiated and if feasible EU Commission could also participate.

The Platform would discuss international issues that need solution and come out with decisions for joint action or proposals and ideas that can bring tham closer together.  In this manner we could avoide paralyzing barriers that may exist in international organisations and / or the other countries can be persuaded to act.