Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

The European Union in International Affairs: Recent Developments

1998; Fordham University School of Law; Volume: 22; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

0747-9395

Hugo Paemen,

European Union Policy and Governance

I have been invited to discuss the changing role of the Union (or “EU”) in the world today. Let me start by highlighting some random examples of EU action in international affairs during 1997. As Europe continues to integrate domestically, it will be forced to reassess the image that it projects in the world. As it does so, institutional reform will become even more compelling if the Union is to conduct the coherent external policy that most people in the world expect of it. Some had hoped that last the June 1997 Summit in Amsterdam would at least start to solve these institutional questions, but the heads of state and government decided that the time was not yet ripe for change. But it is only a matter of time before the myriad of challenges facing the Union and its role in the world force the issue back onto the agenda. THE EUROPEAN UNION IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Ambassador Hugo Paemen* I have been invited to discuss the changing role of the Union (or EU) in the world today. An ambassador, by definition, is not supposed to be an expert, and certainly not in constitutional systems. So, I will describe the Union's external policy from the standpoint of a practitioner. I am aware that this approach is not a very glorious way to avoid a legal duel with Jacques Bourgeois, but, this type of confrontation is not something that I would advise in any case. At the outset, I should make a clear distinction between the terms European (or EC) and European Union. After all, until the Treaty of Amsterdam1 comes into force, only the Community will grant it legal personality. Therefore, please forgive me if occasionally I use the term Union where it is not correct. We went through a very painful adjustment period to go from the Community to the Union, so it is somewhat difficult now to make the distinction. Let me start by highlighting some random examples of EU action in international affairs during 1997. In the trade sector, it is generally recognized that the Union played an important role in two significant World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements. The first agreement, the Telecommunications Services Agreement, 2 was reached in February and covers about ninety percent of world revenues in the telecommunications sector. The second agreement was the December Agreement on Financial Services,3 covering about ninety-five percent of trade in the banking, insurance, and securities sectors. * Head of the Commission Delegation to the United States. 1. Treaty of Amsterdam amending the Treaty on Union, the Treaties establishing the Communities and certain related acts, Oct. 2, 1997, O.J. C 340/1 (1997) (not yet ratified) [hereinafter Treaty of Amsterdam]. 2. World Trade Organization: Agreement on Telecommunications Services, Feb. 15, 1997, 36 I.L.M. 354. 3. No publication available.