16 February 2016

UK Parliament: Report on EU foreign and security strategy published

The EU External Affairs Sub-Committee published its report into the EU foreign and security strategy, said the EU needs to concentrate its resources on its immediate neighbourhood and acknowledged that a Brexit would diminish the effectiveness of the UK’s foreign policy.

Key findings

Turkey:

The refugee and migration crisis, as well as the growing threat from terrorism, have placed Turkey’s role as a buffer state into the spotlight. Yet the EU’s approach to Turkey has been one of strategic disarray - the current EU approach to Turkey exposes the lack of consensus among Member States on their objectives for the relationship in the long term. The Committee urges the EU, as a priority, to revisit the whole relationship from first principles.

Russia and Baltic states:

The EU and Member States should pursue a dual-track policy on Russia, taking a coherent and credible response to Russian breaches of international law, as well as being open to co-operation and dialogue with Russia on areas of shared interest. EU and NATO deterrence in the Baltic States and Black Sea remains inadequate, and it is not clear that Russian military action would be met with a forceful response by European states.

Middle East and North Africa:

The EU needs to strive for security, stability and good governance in the Middle East and North Africa, as a means of stabilising its external environment, combatting terrorism and calming the refugee and migration flows. The report recognises that these are problems that are too big for the EU to solve alone.

UK:

A UK exit from the EU would diminish the effectiveness of the UK’s foreign policy. Many decisions agreed between the Member States are executed by means of Commission instruments, such as trade agreements and development assistance. A UK outside of the EU would not be a party to these decisions. The effectiveness of EU foreign policy would also be diminished.

NATO:

Cuts in defence spending in some Member States, and a lack of co-operation between NATO and the EU, reduce the chances of the Union developing an effective military capability.

Full report

© UK Parliament