The Union’s CFSP is damaged beyond repair; says majority

Date: 27/03/03

By Martin Banks

A MAJORITY of staff working in the European Union institutions believe that the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has been damaged "beyond repair" by the war in Iraq, according to a poll by this paper.

Other key findings include:

• Almost three to one believe that the UK sees its relationship with Washington asmore important thanwith Brussels;
• nearly two-thirds of respondents think the UK and France should give up their seats on the UN Security Council in favour of a single EU seat;
• some 51% of those quizzed believe the Union should take a lead role in the reconstruction of post-war Iraq - but 40% are opposed.

UK premier Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and European Commission President Romano Prodi each emerge with a similar approval ratings for the way in which they have conducted themselves during the crisis, but President George W. Bush comes out badly, with 45% declaring that they do not trust his stance.

Blair and Prodi both receive a "fair" rating from 38%, while Chirac gets the highest approval from 21%.

European Voice questioned more than 500 people working in and around the three main EU institutions in Brussels - the European Commission, Council of Ministers and European Parliament.

Senior officials and MEPs were among those who took part in the survey. Nationals from every member state as well as most future members were polled in order to produce balanced findings. The poll was conducted on 25-26 March.

Meanwhile, people taking part in an online vote hosted by EU presidency Greece, rate the Union's performance in the crisis as no more than average.

The US fared even worse, however, finishing bottom of the poll of nearly 70,000 people across the EU.

Additional research: Nancy Lim.

Poll questions and results in full

1. Do you think that the US and UK were right or wrong to take military action against Iraq?
Right: 27%
Wrong: 70%
Don't know: 3%

2a. How much do you trust the stance taken in the crisis by Tony Blair?
Very much: 5%
Fair amount: 38%
Not much: 28%
Not at all: 26%
Don't know: 2%

2b. How much do you trust the stance taken in the crisis by Jacques Chirac?
Very much: 21%
Fair amount: 36%
Not much: 32%
Not at all: 9%
Don't know: 1%

2c. How much do you trust the stance taken in the crisis by George Bush?
Very much: 2%
Fair amount: 21%
Not much: 30%
Not at all: 45%
Don't know: 2%

2d. How much do you trust the stance taken in the crisis by Romano Prodi
Very much: 2%
Fair amount: 38%
Not much: 38%
Not at all: 8%
Don't know: 13%

3. Have the disputes over Iraq damaged the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy beyond repair?
Yes: 50%
No: 44%
Don't know: 6%

4. Could the EU have done moreto prevent the war?
Yes: 62%
No: 33%
Don't know: 5%

5. Should the EU take a lead rolein the reconstruction of Iraq?
Yes: 51%
No: 40%
Don't know: 9%

6. Do you think the UK sees its relationship with Washington asmore important than its relationship with Brussels?
Yes: 74%
No: 24%
Don't know: 2%

7. Should the UK and France give up their seats on the UN Security Council in favour of a single EU seat?
Yes: 64%
No: 34%
Don't know: 2%

A majority of staff working in the European Union institutions believe that the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) has been damaged 'beyond repair' by the war in Iraq, according to a poll by European Voice.