Eu and the return of geopolitics

Eu and the return of geopolitics UNIGE

The EU's geopolitical turn: meaning

The shift from a mainly economic/soft power actor to one that aspires to act as a global geopolitical player and security-conscious actor.

The EU's geopolitical turn: popularised by whom

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (2019), who called for a "geopolitical Commission."

EU geopolitical turn: key implication

The EU wants to defend its interests and values more decisively in an increasingly competitive, multipolar world.

Strategic Autonomy (SA): definition

Reducing reliance on the US, China, and Russia for energy, technology, and security; push for defence cooperation, investment in green energy, digital sovereignty.

Security & Defence: key action

Strengthening the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and developing the Strategic Compass (2022) to guide security/defence priorities.

Economic Geopolitics: examples

Using trade, sanctions, and investment screening as geopolitical tools; e.g., sanctions against Russia after Crimea (2014) and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine (2022).

Geopolitical Enlargement: focus areas

Geopolitical engagement in the Balkans, Eastern Partnership (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova), and the Mediterranean.

Global challenges in the geopolitical turn

Positioning itself as a leader on climate change, digital regulation, and human rights.

Core reason for the geopolitical turn

Rise of great-power competition (US-China rivalry), Brexit, and Russia's aggression in Ukraine (2014 & 2022).

Critiques & Limits of the geopolitical turn

Internal divisions (Member States disagree on foreign policy priorities); institutional limits (foreign and security policy often requires unanimity); reliance on NATO.

EU power: old criticism

Economic giant, political dwarf, military worm (Soft power vs. hard power).

EU as an actor (modern view)

Political, intergovernmental alliance, supernational (federal state aspects), and technical.

Post-WW2 foundation of the EU

From the 1951 coal and steel community, gradual integration led to 27 member states.

1957 Treaty

Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community (EEC).

1992 Treaty

Treaty of Maastricht created the European Union, developed new competencies, and created deeper integration.

European Council: Members

Heads of state or government of the EU member states + President of the European Council + President of the Commission.

European Council: Role

Sets the EU's overall political direction and priorities (Think strategic leadership - the "big picture" decisions).

Council of the EU: Members

Government ministers from each member state (ministers attending depend on the policy area, e.g., environment, economy).

Council of the EU: Role

Shares legislative power with the European Parliament, coordinates policies, approves the EU budget. (Think law-making and policy coordination).

European Commission: Members

1 Commissioner per member state, acting independently, not as national representatives.

European Commission: Role

Proposes legislation, enforces EU law, manages day-to-day EU policies and budget. (Think executive branch / government of the EU).

European Parliament: Members

Directly elected MEPs (Members of European Parliament) from across the EU.

European Parliament: Role

Shares law-making and budgetary powers with the Council of the EU, supervises other institutions, represents EU citizens.

Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU): Role

Ensures EU law is interpreted and applied the same across all member states; settles disputes. (Think judicial branch / supreme legal authority).

European Central Bank (ECB): Role

Manages the euro and EU monetary policy, keeps prices stable, supervises banks in the eurozone. (Think monetary policy and euro stability).

European Court of Auditors: Role

Checks EU finances – ensures money is collected and spent correctly. (Think financial watchdog).

Supranationalism vs. Intergovernmentalism: Supranational

EU institutions make decisions binding on all (e.g., single market, competition law) → States give up sovereignty.

Supranationalism vs. Intergovernmentalism: Intergovernmental

States cooperate but retain veto and full sovereignty (e.g., foreign policy, taxation) → Decisions taken directly by national governments.

Sovereignty in the EU: tension

States transfer some powers to the EU level (pooled sovereignty) but retain sovereignty in core areas (defence, taxation).

Cold War Origins: key context

The European Union emerged from the devastation of WW2 and the need for stability under the US security umbrella.

Schuman Plan (1950): aim

To make Franco-German coal and steel production under a common authority, so that war would become materially impossible.

Treaty of Paris (1951): key feature

Established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC); revolutionary shift: peace would rest on dense economic interdependence, not just political promises.

Civilian Power (Duchêne, 1973): definition

Power defined in opposition to military styles of power (e.g., economic, resolution power); centrality of economic power, diplomatic cooperation, legally-binding supranational institutions.

Normative Power (1990s–2000s): definition

A power that can shape conceptions of the 'normal' → shapes what is considered as legitimate (e.g., EU core norms and values = liberal norms).

Example of Normative Power EU

EU international development aid policy, supporting democracy, law, human rights, preserving peace and promoting an international system.

Counter to Normative/Civilian Power

Post-colonial thinkers would classify this as colonial or imperial power Europe, that it exerts its belief on the global south.

Petersberg Tasks (June 1992)

First definition of the types of missions European governments wanted to launch in cooperation → humanitarian, peacekeeping, tasks of combat forces in crisis management.

Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Tasks

Not to wage war, but joint disarmament, humanitarian/rescue, military advice, conflict prevention and peace-keeping tasks.

The Brussels Effect (2020)

The process by which EU norms and frameworks (e.g., GDPR) that reflect EU interests are emulated by global states or firms.

The Brussels Effect: significance

The EU does not need coercion to govern markets; it coerces with absolutely no force or even asking, simply by being a big "power" (regulatory state).