34-650: The European Political Co-operation ( EPC ) was the common term for the co-ordination of foreign policy between member states of the European Communities (EC) from its inception in 1970 until the EPC was superseded by the new European Union 's (EU) Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) pillar upon the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty in November 1993. In the 1950s and 1960s,
68-542: A state employs in its interactions with other states, unions, and international entities. It encompasses a wide range of objectives, including defense and security, economic benefits, and humanitarian assistance. The formulation of foreign policy is influenced by various factors such as domestic considerations, the behavior of other states, and geopolitical strategies. Historically, the practice of foreign policy has evolved from managing short-term crises to addressing long-term international relations, with diplomatic corps playing
102-459: A European federation indispensable to the preservation of peace." The Declaration had several aims: The Schuman Declaration marked the beginning of post-World War II Franco-German cooperation and the re-integration of West Germany into Western Europe. Konrad Adenauer , Chancellor of West Germany, said "[t]hat's our breakthrough" in regards to the Declaration. The legacy of this initiative
136-661: A High Authority to monitor compliance with competition rules and ensure price transparency. Schuman was a proponent of further European integration through an (ultimately unratified) European defence community. In 1958 he became the first President of the predecessor to the European Parliament . When he left office, the Parliament bestowed on him the title "Father of Europe". May 9 has been designated " Europe Day " to celebrate peace and unity in Europe because of
170-400: A common foundation for economic development and "will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible." Importantly, by pooling basic production and by instituting the new High Authority — whose decisions bind France, Germany and other member countries — "this proposal will lead to the realization of the first concrete foundation of
204-479: A crucial role in its development. The objectives of foreign policy are diverse and interconnected, contributing to a comprehensive approach for each state. Defense and security are often primary goals, with states forming military alliances and employing soft power to combat threats. Economic interests, including trade agreements and foreign aid, are central to a country's role in the global economy. Additionally, many states have developed humanitarian programs based on
238-665: A force for peace in Europe, since the single market would make a war between France and Germany "materially impossible." Schuman promoted initiatives to unite Europe while he was the Prime Minister of France (1947–48) and foreign minister from 1948–52. He spoke about the principles of sharing European resources in a supranational union at the signing of the Statute of the Council of Europe in London , 5 May 1949. In drafting
272-417: A role in a country's foreign policy. In a democracy , public opinion and the methods of political representation both affect a country's foreign policy. Democratic countries are also believed to be less likely to resort to military conflict with one another. Autocratic states are less likely to use legalism in their foreign policies. Under a dictatorship , a state's foreign policy may depend heavily on
306-520: A single, comprehensive foreign policy for each state. Unlike domestic policy, foreign policy issues often arise suddenly in response to developments and major events in foreign countries. Foreign policy is often directed for the purpose of ensuring national security . Governments forming military alliances with foreign states in order to deter and show stronger resistance to attack. Foreign policy also focuses on combating adversarial states through soft power , international isolation , or war . In
340-491: The EC member states tried twice to give the internal market a foreign policy dimension but failed on both attempts. The concept of EPC had been under consideration from early 60s but due to opinion difference between General de Gaulle and his partners, its implementation had been halted. Subsequent development of both political and economic activities in countries outside Europe forced the members to review their foreign policies. This
374-700: The European Union . Following World War II, the Cold War split Europe between two spheres of influence on either side of the Iron Curtain . With the desire not to repeat the destruction seen in the First and Second World Wars, there was an inclination towards European co-operation. For example, Winston Churchill , called for the formation of a " Council of Europe ". The United States supported greater European cooperation, and when Marshall Plan aid
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#1732773086108408-478: The 18th century, due to extreme turbulence in European diplomacy and ongoing conflicts, the practice of diplomacy was often fragmented by the necessity to deal with isolated issues, termed "affairs". Therefore, while domestic management of such issues was termed civil affairs (peasant riots, treasury shortfalls, and court intrigues), the term foreign affairs was applied to the management of temporary issues outside
442-429: The 21st century, defensive foreign policy has expanded to address the threat of global terrorism . Foreign policy is central for a country's role within the world economy and international trade . Economic foreign policy issues may include the establishment of trade agreements , the distribution of foreign aid, and the management of imports and exports . Many states have developed humanitarian programs under
476-622: The EPC did not have the strong Paris -based Secretariat of the Fouchet proposals. The Netherlands had always been anxious about this idea, as they thought that it might turn into a competitor for the European Commission. On 6 January 1981, Hans Dietrich Genscher in his speech emphasized on the importance of EPC strengthening. The EPC was amended and strengthened in the Copenhagen report (1973) and London report (1981). It
510-786: The Luxembourg/ Davignon report (1970), which created an informal intergovernmental consultation mechanism where member states could achieve "politics of scale" (Ginsberg, 1989). While EPC adopted the intergovernmental nature of the Fouchet Plans , it disregarded the 'French grandeur' of the Charles de Gaulle era. The involvement of the United Kingdom guaranteed its Atlanticist nature. The European Commission would furthermore be able to express its opinion if matters within its competencies were concerned. Finally,
544-630: The Schuman Declaration, Jean Monnet had input from Paul Reuter , a consultant in international law to the French foreign ministry and Professor of Law at Aix-en-Provence; and Etienne Hirsch . (The draft documents of the Declaration were published by the Jean Monnet Foundation. ) The Schuman proposal was agreed on after the French cabinet discussion on 9 May 1950. Earlier in the day, Schuman had been assured that it had
578-438: The concept of the responsibility to protect . Proponents of liberal internationalism believe that it is the duty of stronger and more well-off countries to assist and support less powerful countries. This idea is often associated with the idealist school of thought. Liberal internationalist support can take the form of defensive or economic support. Superpowers are able to project power and exercise their influence across
612-452: The concern (which dated to the prewar period) was that coal would be available on more favourable terms to the German market and so provide an advantage to German industry. Schuman aimed to prevent coal and steel firms from acting as cartels which could restrict supply by national market. The Schuman Plan would mean the pooling of markets and the expansion of production. This was viewed as
646-401: The development of foreign policy proposals, alternatives to existing policy, or to provide analytical assessments of evolving relationships. Several objectives may motivate a government's foreign policy. Foreign policy may be directed for defense and security, for economic benefit, or to provide assistance to states that need it. All foreign policy objectives are interconnected and contribute to
680-743: The first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany , responded positively to the Declaration, as did the governments of the Netherlands , Belgium , Italy , and Luxembourg . On 18 April 1951, the six founding members signed the Treaty of Paris . It created the European Coal and Steel Community – Europe's first supranational community, which paved the way for the European Economic Community and subsequently
714-748: The government bargaining model that posits the foreign policy apparatus as several competing interests, and the organizational process model that posits the foreign policy apparatus as interlinked bureaucracies that each play their own role. Think tanks exist that study foreign policy specifically, including the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States and the Chatham House in the United Kingdom. Schuman Declaration The Schuman Declaration , or Schuman Plan ,
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#1732773086108748-483: The legal inception of the European Union (EU)—the principal framework for this unification. The EU inherited many of its present responsibilities from the European Communities (EC), which were founded in the 1950s in the spirit of the Schuman Declaration . Highly recommended reading Foreign policy Foreign policy , also known as external policy , is the set of strategies and actions
782-426: The preferences of the dictator. Dictators that interfere significantly with their foreign policy apparatus may be less predictable and more likely to make foreign policy blunders. The study of foreign policy considers why and how states interact with one another and maintain relations. Several schools of thought exist in the study of foreign policy, including the rational actor model based on rational choice theory ,
816-436: The responsibility to protect, supporting less powerful countries through various forms of assistance. The study of foreign policy examines the reasons and methods behind state interactions, with think tanks and academic institutions providing research and analysis to inform policy decisions. The idea of long-term management of relationships followed the development of professional diplomatic corps that managed diplomacy . In
850-574: The sovereign realm. This term remained in widespread use in the English-speaking states into the 20th century, and remains the name of departments in several states that manage foreign relations. Although originally intended to describe short term management of a specific concern, these departments now manage all day-to-day and long-term international relations among states. Think tanks are occasionally employed by government foreign relations organizations to provide research and advocacy in
884-495: The support of German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. The Schuman Declaration says "The coming together of the nations of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany." The French government "proposes that Franco-German production of coal and steel as a whole be placed under a common High Authority, within the framework of an organization open to the participation of other countries of Europe." The pooling of coal and steel production should allow for
918-550: The weakness of the EPC. The EPC was superseded by the Common Foreign and Security Policy in the Maastricht Treaty of November 1993. Since the end of World War II , sovereign European countries have entered into treaties and thereby co-operated and harmonised policies (or pooled sovereignty ) in an increasing number of areas, in the European integration project or the construction of Europe ( French : la construction européenne ). The following timeline outlines
952-716: The world, while great powers and middle powers have moderate influence in global affairs. Small powers have less ability to exercise influence unilaterally, as they have fewer economic and military resources to leverage. As a result, they are more likely to support international and multilateral organizations. The diplomatic bureaucracies of smaller states are also smaller, which limits their capacity to engage in complex diplomacy. Smaller states may seek to ally themselves with larger countries for economic and defensive benefits, or they may avoid involvement in international disputes so as to remain on friendly terms with all countries. The political institutions and forms of government play
986-482: Was a proposal to place French and West German production of coal and steel under a single authority that later became the European Coal and Steel Community , made by the French foreign minister, Robert Schuman , on 9 May 1950 (now celebrated in the EU as Europe Day ), the day after the fifth anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. The alliance would later be opened to other European countries. The ultimate goal
1020-521: Was after General de Gaulle retired from political office. The idea of the supranational European Defence Community came about following a summit in The Hague (1969) in which the EC heads of state and government instructed their foreign ministers to " study the best way of achieving progress in the matter of political unification, within the context of enlargement. " The foreign ministers subsequently drafted
1054-718: Was announced the only condition imposed was that the aid be used by the European countries in a coordinated fashion. The Monnet Plan , France's plan to spur investment and modernize the French economy after World War II, created an impetus for the Schuman Plan. Prewar, France had been the world's biggest importer of coal, and the Monnet Plan anticipated coal imports from Germany. In Germany, there were concerns that France aimed to import coal from Germany "as cheaply as possible" to promote French steel production. In France,
European Political Co-operation - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-751: Was codified (formalized) with the Single European Act (1986). The EPC turned out to be a "mixed success." During the 1970s, it was an active player in the Middle East conflict and in the creation of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe , the predecessor of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe . The Soviet–Afghan War (1979) and the handling of the Yugoslav Wars (1991–1995), however, showed
1122-645: Was the signing of the Treaty of Paris on 18 April 1951 by six European countries (France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands). The Treaty established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the first of three European Communities, and a predecessor of the European Union . The ECSC introduced a common market for steel and coal across the member countries, with freely set market prices, free movement of products, and without customs duties or taxes, subsidies, or restrictive practices. It set up
1156-487: Was to pacify relations, especially between France and West Germany, through gradual political integration to be achieved by creating common interests. Schuman said that "[t]he coming together of the countries of Europe requires the elimination of the age-old opposition of France and Germany ... the solidarity in production thus established will make it plain that any war between France and Germany becomes not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible." Konrad Adenauer ,
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