Společná zahraniční a bezpečnostní politika (SZBP) a Evropská bezpečnostní a obranná politika (EBOP) EU: výzvy, možnosti a meze

The dynamics and complexity of the CFSP is reflected in different attitudes to the methodology of the problem. As an evolutionary process whose dynamics is determined by interaction of external and internal factors, it allows to understand its possibilities and limitations as well as its direction to a coherent, active and effective foreign, security and defence policy of the EU. At the beginning of this process the Cold War oriented European integration exclusively into the economic sphere, while military security was guarantied by NATO due to the primacy of collective self-defence arrangement. The growing mutual interconnection of economic, institutional and legal relations guarantied internal security of the Community and created conditions for coordination of foreign policy by intergovernmental methods. The European Political Cooperation (EPC) was established in 1970. Built on the basis of the EPC, the basic rationale of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) remained the same as that of EPC: such cooperation was an important step toward political union and the member states of EC would have more impact if they spoke collectively, in one voice. The CFSP was introduced under the Maastricht Treaty (l 993). It has provided a legal framework for cooperation among the member states, but not strong and coherent enough to contain the particular political interests of all member states governments. The pillar construction remained the CFSP out of the jurisdiction of the Court of Justice. The corresponding parts of the Maastricht Treaty are under the rules of International law. The impact of the CFSP on international politics in the post-bipolar era has not been very positive nor commensurate with economic power of the EU, particularly in the war conflict in the former Yugoslavia. The establishment of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) in 1999 gave the EU direct access to military structures and means and EU officials and national policy-makers have become involved in its development. Being a part of the CFSP, ESDP is a purely intergovernmental policy based on consensus. ECSP is primarily identified with “crisis management” and starting with 2003 it has been translated into a series of the crisis management operations. Without regard to its dynamics, ESDP still remains to be a development matter. The European Convention includes important innovations of the CFSP/ESDP. The failure of the ratification process may complicate their realization. However, the experience from the preceding development prove that some already agreed reforms and measures can be in force as a part of a constantly adapting and developing process without regard to the future of the European Convention.