EU'S ROLE AS AN INTERNATIONAL ACTOR

How does the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) enhance the EU's role as an international actor?



How does the development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) enhance the EU's role as an international actor?

Introduction

European Union has various roles at national and international level in order to establish a strong and united nation. It is involved in a number of different activities such as trade and commerce, dealing with foreign policy issues, dealing with joint ventures and other multilateral and security organizations, as well as its function in the economic development. There are various definitions which define role and purpose of European Union. According to Jacques Delors can be defined as unidentified political object (Delors cited by Drake, 2000), Fischer (2000) defined it as 'European Federation'. Morgan (2005) considers EU as a super state, while according to Manners (2001) EU is a normative power. All these definitions define EU as a political strength at national level, but at international level, the role of EU is generally considered as weak, incoherent and divided on the basis of its institutional structure and issues associated with the intergovernmental nature of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) (McCormick, 2007). Therefore, in order to enhance the role of EU as an international, development of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) has played a major role.

Discussion

Role of EU as an International Actor

The role of EU as an international actor can be identified on the basis of three major of its function in three main areas; its economic and trade policies, role in the development and aid assistance, and EU's role in the security and defence policies. Since the time of its establishments, there are a number of different factors associated with the policy making and implementing of these policies, which has resulted in making EU as weak organization. EU foreign policy is consist of three different levels in order to deal with international matters, such as concerns associated with each state and their own priorities, another problems is to collaborate with other international policies such as Common Commercial Policy, and issues with intergovernmental framework of Pillar (Peterson & Smith, 2008).

The Pillars of European Union are classified as European Communities Pillar, Common Foreign and Security Policy Pillar, and Justice and Home Affairs Pillar (European Union Pillars, 2013). European Communities Pillar is associated with EU's role associated with European Atomic Energy Community EURATOM and European Coal and Steel Community ECSC, which deals with economic activities. Another pillar is Common Foreign and Security Policy Pillar, which is associated with external foreign political concern and aid concerns. Justice and Home Affairs Pillar is associated with internal policies such as development of court and legislative system (European Union Pillars, 2013). These policies and efforts clearly defines EU's role as the international actor in three major areas of policy making and governance, which are trade, aid, and defence policy making.

With the advancements in international sector and development of ...