Ten Global Challenges to Europe's Foreign Policy – Concluding Remarks at the Dahrendorf Symposium 2016
| Author | Stephan Auer |
| Published date | 01 June 2017 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/1758-5899.12429 |
| Date | 01 June 2017 |
Ten Global Challenges to Europe’s Foreign
Policy –Concluding Remarks at the Dahrendorf
Symposium 2016
Stephan Auer
European External Action Service (EASS)
1
As the title of this symposium implies, we indeed live in an
age of global insecurity, of crises, and power shifts. It is hard
to define the centres of power. They are multiple and over-
lapping. Complexity, conflict, and interdependence seem to
be the only elements we can be sure of when we refer to
our times.
Foreign policy is no longer what happens in distant
places around the world. Probably, it never has been, but
the impacts that we get to feel have become more immedi-
ate. But there is no point in panicking by turning inwards,
building walls, or even just focusing on enhancing our
capacity to extinguish fires.
The European Union should continue to act as an
enabling force. In order to succeed, the EU has to define
and be aware of its common interests and values. The EU
has to build on what it has in common with these shifting
powers and with longstanding partners.
Recent developments on the international stage suggest
two different –even contradictory –trends, one positive and
one negative. On the positive side, 2015 has witnessed two
major breakthroughs on the multilateral front. We have had
the Paris Agreement on climate change, and we have had
the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop-
ment at the New York Summit. Both are a clear testimony to
what is possible if interests and values of the international
community coincide.
On the negative side, we are facing many crises in parti-
cular, in our immediate neighbourhood. And what is more
worrying, we are facing them at a time when the EU’s inte-
gration process itself is challenged from within. Terrorism
has sadly taken a more pervading part in our lives, be it in
Brussels, Paris, Bamako, Lahore or Ankara. The big question
for all of us is: how can we make a change? How can we
manage complexity, prevent and resolve conflicts, and take
the opportunities that interdependence offers to us? How
do we shape the new world order?
Now let me outline how I think the European Union can
contribute to addressing the many challenges we face. As
Europeans, we can only expect to be a credible player if we
act as a responsible power at our doorstep. We need to
stand side by side with our partners and friends in the
region in defence against those who undermine their values,
their aspirations, and their sovereign decisions.
In the southern neighbourhood, we have faced and cur-
rently face multiple, interconnected crises, from Libya and
Sahel to Syria and Iraq. This has been greatly amplified by
the threat emanating from Daesh (IS). We are collaborating
with all our partners in the region and beyond to prevent
and confront terrorist acts and networks. It is certainly a
security challenge, but it is also a cultural challenge. We
must be smart enough not to fall into the trap of a new
clash of civilisations. And we must call Daesh what it is. It is
a terrorist group that uses and misuses religion as a means
to perpetrate criminal offenses, violence in a conflict for
power.
By resolving ongoing political conflicts, we will contribute
to reducing Daesh’s footprint in the region and ultimately
extinguish its raison d’^
etre. Our key priority in Syria has
been to create an enabling environment for political talks
leading to transition. We therefore fully back the efforts
undertaken by the Special Envoy of the United Nations, Staf-
fan de Mistura.
As you know, as an active member of the International
Syrian Support Group, the EU is relentlessly engaging all
stakeholders to respect the obligations on the Security
Council Resolution 2254 (2015). And needless to say, the
clock is ticking.
In Libya, two months have passed since the arrival of the
Presidency Council in Tripoli. But it has neither been able to
exert real executive power, nor to deliver on even the most
basic and urgent needs. And this, of course, is eroding pop-
ular support. International support for and the recognition
of the Government of National Accord, have not yet
brought about significant changes on the ground. Recent
developments in the East also underline the existing threat
of a partition of the country.
Throughout the last months, we, from the EU, have vigor-
ously supported the efforts undertaken by Special Envoy
Martin Kobler. And we are now working on translating the
political commitment of the Government of National Accord
into concrete actions. The EU is also very concerned by the
terrorist threat and presence of extremist groups in Libya.
Libyans need to build a united front against these terrorist
groups. These examples point to the fact that political solu-
tions to ongoing conflicts are an essential part of the
answer. Experience shows, that the EU can be a powerful
©2017 University of Durham and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Global Policy (2017) 8:Suppl.4 doi: 10.1111/1758-5899.12429
Global Policy Volume 8 . Supplement 4 . June 2017
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