FOREIGN POLICY PERSPECTIVES:EU FOREIGN policy chief Catherine Ashton has called for a recalibration of Europe's relationship with the US and said the union must be clear about its own interests in its engagement with China.
In reports to EU leaders on Europe’s strategic partnerships as the union’s new diplomatic corps starts its work, she also pointed to “problems” in Europe’s relationship with Russia. Decrying untapped potential in EU-Russia links, she said this presented an opportunity cost to both sides.
Baroness Ashton said Europe’s “top political level” should set strategic priorities for the European External Action Service (EAS), established this month to boost the EU’s reach in world affairs.
She is keen to promote the notion of a G3 tripartite relationship in global affairs between the EU, the US and China, something which would bring Europe on a par with the G2 US-China relationship. “Europe is no longer the main strategic preoccupation of US foreign policy. The US is increasingly looking to new partners to address old and new problems,” she said.
“The EU-US relationship has to go global if it is to remain relevant and effective. We must work out a new kind of partnership, fit for a new era. Both sides need this as it is difficult for either to find another partner that is closer in terms of core values and interests and that has more resources to bring to bear.”
Citing the results of recent US mid-term elections, Baroness Ashton said American politics seems increasingly polarised.
In the 2012 presidential campaign, she expects a debate on how best to enhance US competitiveness vis-à-vis the major emerging powers in relation to education, research and innovation. The policy debate on relationships in Asia and Latin America will “feed into EU-US dynamics”.
In the relationship with China, Baroness Ashton said Europe’s interests lay in enhancing trade and investment and co-operation on “global challenges” and security threats. She wants a strengthening of rules-based global governance and the promotion of democracy, rule of law and human rights.
At the summit, EU leaders agreed to give Montenegro the status of a candidate country for EU membership and called on the Ivory Coast military to place themselves under the authority of democratically elected president Alassane Ouattara. Incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo has refused to accept the outcome of an election three weeks ago, arguing the poll was rigged.