The sad chronicle of Middle East insincerity

To say the EU has not acquitted itself well in the world this summer is to tax the English practice of understatement too far. It has been a fiasco, mitigated only slightly by the mustering of some 7,000 European troops for the reinforced Unifil, the UN mission in Lebanon. But since these were found only after a hastily convened force-generation conference last Friday (25 August), which the EU appeared to be cornered into holding by the appearance of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Brussels, it is doubtful whether the event actually redeemed the EU or further embellished its image worldwide.

The EU’s ability to appear insincere is possibly one of its most puzzling attributes. As an organization founded on the principles of collective redemption after disastrous wars - and one that has devoted itself to improving the wealth and welfare of its citizens to a degree practically unheard of in most parts of the world, while also being the foremost international development donor - it is nearly oxymoronic to suggest it is insincere. Yet it is seen as such in many quarters of the globe. That is largely due to its inability to deliver in a timely and decisive manner on either the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) or the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

Timely and decisive are the key words in this case, since in reality the EU has made significant progress in creating both foreign and security policies and implementing them. At the very least, the mechanisms put in place over the past decade alongside the capabilities of the Commission’s DG Relex, from the Political and Security Committee (COPS) to a standing military staff, ensure that the EU produces a position on each and every international issue and often, if needed, action. The problem is that while positions often get stated more or less as events unfold, most action is too little and too late. And it is this gap in rhetoric that makes the EU seem insincere.

The conflict in Lebanon reflected the worst of this tendency. From its very first days in late July the EU did manage to put forth statements and even convene an emergency meeting of foreign ministers - an achievement in itself, given it was the beginning of August. But while talking about action, the union nonetheless did nothing of substance, either to help bring about a ceasefire, or to offer troops to help monitor one. As a result it appeared somewhat disinterested, backing by default the US position.

As negotiations for UN Security Council Resolution 1701 intensified, it was implicit that the EU states - led by France - would contribute to it strongly in order to ensure it was sufficiently robust. But once it was passed, on 11 August, France pledged but 200 troops, and most other Europeans kept determinedly silent. It was left to Italy to pick up the dropped baton and offer up to 3,000 troops - and then to remain a single EU troop contributor until the conference with Annan on 25 August. As a result, it appeared to be dragged into meeting its implicit obligations rather than taking the lead and bringing others in its wake.

The irony of this sad chronology is that, unlike the dithering political level, the militaries now tasked with going into Lebanon will be totally professional. As many times before, soldiers from EU states will enter the fray, and attempt to implement the somewhat opaque mandate to the best of their ability. On the ground, they will co-operate with each other and with the warring factions probably seamlessly, despite the convoluted chains of command the political levels in the UN, the EU and their respective nations will be imposing on them. In other words, they will appear totally sincere. Perhaps the politicians can learn something from their soldiers.

• Ilana Bet-El is an academic, author and policy adviser based in Brussels.

To say the EU has not acquitted itself well in the world this summer is to tax the English practice of understatement too far. It has been a fiasco, mitigated only slightly by the mustering of some 7,000 European troops for the reinforced Unifil, the UN mission in Lebanon. But since these were found only after a hastily convened force-generation conference last Friday (25 August), which the EU appeared to be cornered into holding by the appearance of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in Brussels, it is doubtful whether the event actually redeemed the EU or further embellished its image worldwide.