The Restrictive Factors Of The EU Common Foreign Policy In Iraq War

On March 20, 2003, the US invaded Iraq without the authorization of the UN Security Council. As Member States of the European Union, the UK, Spain and Italy actively participated in the so-called"Coalition of Willingness",which was led by the US. France and Germany strongly opposed the war. This made the EU could not reach an agreement on Iraq War and did not release a common statement on behalf of the EU. The Iraq War has seriously damaged the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)and brought about enormous negative impacts on the process of the realization of European political integration.Therefore, an in-depth analysis of the restrictive factors of the EU common foreign policy will not only summarize the lessons in Iraq War, but continue to promote the process of European political integration, as well as prevent the tragedy of Iraq War happening again. It is of great significance to the development of EU itself, the final establishment of a multi-polar world, the opposing against the US hegemony and power politics, and the academic research of European integration.Based on the Iraq War, it can be summarized that factors at 3 levels have made the EU have no common foreign policy towards the Iraq War. At the EU level, the nature of inter-governmentalism is the fundamental reason of the inability of the lack of common foreign policy: the decision-making power is held by the European Council, i.e., in the hands of the Member States; unlike its function in the European Economic Community pillar, the European Commission has no adequate or even necessary power to make decision in the CFSP pillar. Besides, the overlapping of the functions of different EU institutions have decreased the capability of EU emergency response and led to relatively low efficiency.At the Member States level, the huge differences and contradictions of national interests among EU Member States are the most important and basic reason, which have caused the EU have no common foreign policy on the Iraq War. The UK always devotes itself to maintaining the"special relationship"with the US, supporting most of US decision. On one hand, France and Germany have some substantial economic interests in Iraq and have been making efforts to promote multi-polarity process and oppose the US unilateralism and pre-emptive strategy. One the other hand, they got together to promote the development of the CFSP of the EU. Italy and Spain followed the US in Iraq, because of their right-wing leader's choices and enthusiasm. In order to get closed to the US, Poland, an EU Candidate Member State, actively sent its troops into Iraq from the beginning of the war. It is very difficult or impossible for the Member States to reach a consensus on the war, even taking the qualified majority voting system. Therefore, it is the Member States, in particular the UK, France and Germany, that determine the fate and future of the EU common foreign policy. The cooperation and coordination between UK and France will be the most important element of the success of the common foreign policy.At the EU external level, the impact of the US should not and can not be ignored. After entering the 21st century, the US, which was attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001, is engaged in spreading its own values, political, economic and social system throughout the world,"reforming the Middle East"and has been implementing a unilateral, pre-emptive policy when dealing with international issues. This practice is different from, even contrary to the proposals of the EU. However, the economic giant EU is unable to compete with the US in international politics, security and diplomacy sectors. To a large extent, the US is strong enough to determine whether the EU has a common foreign policy or not. So the US is the most crucial external factor of the EU common foreign policy.All in all, the EU must encounter the above-mentioned restrictive factors in the making and implementation of common foreign policy. The internal factors are much more important than the external ones, which need more attention and efforts. Among the internal factors, the key to a common foreign policy is to narrow the difference of Member States' national interests, and to nurture common interest in the so-called"high politics". The process of realization of the EU CFSP is a gradual, long and accumulative process. It needs the test of time.