DMEU - 16 .2 exque EU foreign policy remains structurally intergovernmental. What are the challenges and implications?

EU policy remain structurally intergovernmental espacially wich one ?

• CFSP Common Foreign and Security Policy

• CSDP Common Security and Defence Policy

Because it rests on consultations between member states rather than supranational integration

The challenge of intergovernmentalism /elements

The structural reliance on member state cooperation creates several significant hurdles for the EU’s global role:

1. The Difficulty of "Speaking with One Voice"

2. Decision-Making blockade

3. Military Disparities

4. The Rise of Populism

1. The Difficulty of "Speaking with One Voice"

National interests often diverge due to different historical legacies, influential global roles (e.g., former colonial powers), and specific geographical relationships.

2. Decision-Making Gridlock

: Because the intergovernmental method typically requires unanimity in the Council, a single member state can block collective action.

ex : For example, Hungary has used its veto power to block financial aid to Ukraine and threaten sanctions against Russia.

3. Military Disparities

Member states possess vastly different military capabilities and show varying degrees of willingness to use armed force. Furthermore, differing commitments to NATO—where not all EU members are part of the alliance—create friction in developing a unified security strategy

4. the rise of populsime

Populist governments tend to centralize and personalize foreign policy, often prioritizing domestic mobilization over international compromise. This contributes to the fragmentation of traditional Western alliances and undermines stable expectations in multilateral cooperation

The implications for the EU /elements

The persistence of this intergovernmental structure has deep implications for the EU’s institutional balance and international standing:

1. weakened credibility

2. monnet reverse fabbrini

3. marginalization of supranational institutions

4. use of constructive abstention

1. weakened credibility

Growing internal divisions challenge the EU’s coherence and its credibility as a "normative actor" on the global stage. When the EU cannot reach a common position, its declaratory statements and foreign policy instruments lose their tangible impact.

2. Monet reversed

• FABBRINI

• While Jean Monnet famously argued that crises would lead to more supranational integration, recent "poly-crises" (fiscal, energy, security) have instead strengthened intergovernmental power. This is because these crises touch on "core state powers" where national governments are unwilling to cede authority

3. Marginaliuzation of supranational institutions

in this framework

= EP = consultative role

= EC = technical support.

The real political "impetus" and strategic guidelines come from the European Council

4. use of constructive abstention

To avoid total paralysis

which allows a state to abstain from a vote without blocking it, though they are then not bound to apply the decision. While this allows for some action, it further fragments the idea of a truly "common" policy