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Stress Test for the EU’s Multilateral Approach: Prospects for fostering regional cooperation |
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International Seminar
Tallinn, 2-3 March 2011
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Is the EU really committed to the promotion of multilateralism in its Foreign Policy? To answer this question the International Centre for Defence Studies (ICDS) organized in Tallin in 2-3 March 2010 this event bringing policy makers and analysts from the four sea basins. The seminar produced the policy recommendations for strengthening the role of the EU in the four sea basins. |
 eu4seas_tallinn_programme 189.55 Kb list_of_participants 167.63 Kb
Francisco A. Pérez: "How will the EU preserve its attractiveness to the non-member countries without Enlargement incentives?" |
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The seminar examined the main conclusions for EU4SEAS project and delivered some of the provisional policy recommendations for both functional and regional dimensions.
The necessity of rethinking EU foreign policy was analysed and a new paradigm started to emerge. The projection of the EU towards the regions may be based on commonalities or special interests, but the EU has also learnt from regional experiences and identities. The recent North African events show the paradox of the impossibility of exporting democracy only market means or modernisation strategies, and the effects produced by socio-economic tensions on the status quo.
Stability has a price. The EU has to reinforce its credibility and abandon double standards, thus closing the gap between values and Realpolitik. The EU was discussed as a civilian power, norm and institution exporter. However, no mention was made of its capabilities as a securityprovider or power player in traditional terms.
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| The EU’s withdrawal from the Caspian or lack of visibility in
other regions highlights the need to escape from
introspective obsession and begin to reformulate the EU project
from external perspectives. The EU needs to engage with other
regional and global actors in order to stress mutual knowledge
and learning from past experiences in order to encourage creative
cooperation. The EU matters in the four seas but it is still an
incomplete project. There is room for cooperation if we aim to
be more international more European and do more. |
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