Iraq tests the EU’s Common Foreign Policy, January 2003

The question of whether military action should be taken against Iraq is proving a tough test of the EU's Common Foreign Policy with governments from the 15 EU Member States divided over what should be done.

As Hans Blix, the UN's chief weapons inspector, presents a report on his findings in Iraq to the UN Security Council on 27 January 2003, foreign ministers from across Europe will gather for their monthly external relations council meeting at which Iraq is likely to feature prominently on the agenda. In an effort to iron out key differences ahead of the meeting the Greek government, which currently holds the EU Presidency, has called on the foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany and Spain - the EU's four representatives in the UN's Security Council - to meet separately before the meeting to coordinate their positions.

Greece is keen to issue a common EU statement in reaction to the weapons inspector's findings but this is looking increasingly difficult. Whilst the United Kingdom and Spain - the traditional Atlanticists - are likely to support an American led strike against Iraq, France and Germany are much more cautious, announcing in a joint statement on 22 January 2003 that they would intensify their co-operation against a US-led war against Iraq. The German government is adamantly against any military action being launched in Iraq whilst France, who has expressed her opposition to any war, may countenance military action if a second UN resolution authorising an attack is agreed. The position of the other Member States on Iraq also varies: the Netherlands, Italy and Denmark appear to support the US-line but all the others are following the Franco-German approach, favouring a new UN security Council Resolution. Diplomats have admitted that amidst such a divergence of opinion, Greece will be probably be able to do little more than issue a statement saying that all EU Member States support the work of the weapons inspectors.

Media reports have suggested that the United States might wait until 1 March 2003 for a final report from UN inspectors before deciding on possible military action, which will give the Greek Presidency more time to find a solution. The Brussels insider newspaper, European Voice, has suggested that the Greek Presidency is hoping to achieve a common position on Iraq by proposing that 'consultation' with the Security Council rather than a 'decision' that Iraq has breached UN Resolution 1441 could be enough to countenance military intervention. Foreign ministers will discuss the proposal on 27 January 2003 although with the Franco-German axis strengthening, most diplomats remain sceptical about its possible success.

Meanwhile, the issue of Iraq is also putting a strain on EU-US relations. The United States administration is increasingly frustrated with the lack of support from some EU Member States and comments made by the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld describing France and Germany as 'problems' in the crisis over Iraq and representative of 'old Europe' have sparked outrage in both the French and German governments who are successively chairing the UN Security Council. However, the United States has made it clear that it will act alone if necessary - US Secretary of State Colin Powell told the World Economic Forum in Davos from 23-28 January 2003 that 'we will act even if others are not prepared to join us'. Clearly, Iraq is providing one of the biggest tests since the war in Kosovo in 1999 of the EUs ability to speak with one voice on foreign affairs.

Links:
The Greek Presidency of the EU:
	Homepage
The Council of the European Union:
	Common Foreign and Security Policy
The United Nations:
	UN arms inspections in Iraq
	UN Security Council: Index
BBC News Online:
	27.01.03:	Divided EU wrestles with Iraq question
	22.01.03:	EU allies united against Iraq war
	23.01.03:	Outrage at 'old Europe' remarks
European Sources Online: Financial Times:
	25.01.03:	Powell hopeful despite European wavering
	27.01.03:	Blair outlines terms for Iraq war
	27.01.03:	Us presses Europeans to weaken alliance
European Sources Online: Topic Guides
	The European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy

Helen Bower

Compiled: Monday, 27 January 2003

Background and reporting on the week's main stories in the European Union and the wider Europe.