“A Sovereign Europe”: Transforming the European Union to “Hard Power”?

Reflecting upon the causes of the potential marginalization of its global status, the EU has reemphasized “strategic autonomy” by proposing “European sovereignty,” seeking to wield “hard power” in global geopolitical competition and safeguard its core interests independently. Under the discourse, EU foreign policy will be reshaped in a way that eventually influences the future of the international power structure and the global order.

Profound changes unseen in a century, especially the transformation of the international order and global structure, have shattered the foundation of the European Union’s international leverage and reshaped its global status profoundly, forcing it to search for a new foreign strategy. Numerous challenges against multilateralism have undermined the institutional basis on which the EU has relied to exert global influence over time, and the intensification of geopolitical competition among major powers reveals the fragility of the European power structure. Frequent crises of the transatlantic alliance not only undermine the EU’S strategic reliance on it but also threaten its core interests directly. The accumulation of internal crises within the EU has seriously endangered its legitimacy while also critically threatening its power foundation. Consequently, reflecting upon the causes of the potential marginalization of its global status, the EU has reemphasized its “strategic autonomy” by proposing new concepts such as “European sovereignty,” a “sovereign Europe,” etc. Meanwhile, the EU has shifted its domestic and foreign policies and reshaped its means of exerting influence, seeking to wield “hard power” in global geopolitical competition and safeguard its core interests independently. Following the logic of geopolitical competition, the EU has taken a more realistic stance when strategically reshaping its power structure and the ways of leveraging it. Such a shift to realism will not only affect the EU’S various domestic and foreign policies but also influence multilateralism, the transatlantic alliance and the future development of the international order and the global power structure.

Jin Ling is Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow at the Department for European Studies, China Institute of International Studies (CIIS).

Multiple Challenges in International Order Transformation and World Power Restructuring

With the United Kingdom’s exit from the EU (Brexit), the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, the US withdrawal from the international arena, and its global initiation of trade wars under the “America First” concept, the existing international order and world power structure have witnessed profound transformation, which has an unprecedented impact on the EU. In an article published by a European Commission think tank, it is noted that in a world that experiences rising disorder, structural changes and intensifying great-power competition and where the rule-based international order and liberal democracy are under increasing pressure, the European Union is emerging as the sole remaining defender of cooperative multilateralism and the international order.1

2 Anthony Dworkin and Richard Gowan, “Rescuing Multilateralism,” June 25, 2019, p.3, https://www. ecfr.eu/publications/summary/rescuing_multilateralism.

3 See the Treaty on European Union, Article 21 (2):8.

4 European Commission, “European Security Strategy: A Secure Europe in a Better World,” December 12, 2003, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/publications/european-securitystrategy-secure-europe-better-world.

5 European Commission, “Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe,” June 28, 2016, http:// eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/top_stories/pdf/eugs_review_web.pdf.

6 Excerpt from speech delivered by Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament on July 16, 2019, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_19_4230.

7 Richard Gowan and Anthony Dworkin, “Three Crises and an Opportunity: Europe’s Stake in Multilateralism,” September 5, 2019, https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/three_crises_and_an_ opportunity_europes_stake_in_multilateralism.

8 Council of the European Union, “EU Action to Strengthen Rules-based Multilateralism,” June 17, 2019, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/39791/st10341-en19.pdf.

9 Zaki Laïdi, “Can Europe Learn to Play Power Politics?” November 28, 2019, https://www.cer.eu/ publications/archive/essay/2019/can-europe-learn-play-power-politics.

10 European Commission, “European Security Strategy: A Secure Europe in a Better World.”

11 Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro, “Strategic Sovereignty: How Europe Can Regain the Capacity to Act,” June 25, 2019, https://www.ecfr.eu/publications/summary/strategic_sovereignty_how_europe_can_ regain_the_capacity_to_act.

12 European Commission, “Geopolitical Outlook for Europe: Confrontation vs. Cooperation.”

13 The author visited multiple European think tanks between 2018 and 2019, the view noted above reflects the consensus of European scholars.

14 Mark Leonard, Jean Pisani-ferry, Elina Ribakowa, Jeremy Shapiro and Guntram B. Wolff, “Redefining Europe’seconomicsovereignty,”june25,2019,https://bruegel.org/2019/06/redefining-europes-economicsovereignty.

15 Mark Leonard, “The Makings of a ‘Geopolitical’commission,” November 28, 2019, https://www.ecfr. eu/article/commentary_the_makings_of_a_geopolitical_european_commission.

16 Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro, “Strategic Sovereignty: How Europe Can Regain the Capacity to Act.”

17 Ibid.

18 Zhou Hong, ed., European Union as a Power, Social Sciences Academic Press, December 2008, p.5.

19 European Commission, “European Security Strategy: A Secure Europe in a Better World.”

20 Peter Teffer, “Rutte Warns EU to Embrace ‘Realpolitik’ Foreign Policy,” February 13, 2019, https:// euobserver.com/foreign/144162.

21 Javier Solana, “Europe’s Global Role - What Next Steps?,” July 11, 2009, https://reliefweb.int/report/ occupied-palestinian-territory/ditchley-foundation-lecture-javier-solana-europes-global-role.

22 Michael Smith, “The European Union, the USA and Global Governance,” in Jens-uwe Wunderlich et al., The European Union and Global Governance, Routledge, 2011, p.264.

23 European Commission, “Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe,” p.40.

24 Mark Leonard, Jean Pisani-ferry, Elina Ribakova, Jeremy Shapiro and Guntram Wolff, “Securing Europe’s Economic Sovereignty,” Survival, Vol.61, 2019, p.75.

25 Lisbeth Aggestam and Adrian Hyde-price, “Double Trouble: Trump, Transatlantic Relations and European Strategic Autonomy,” Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol.57, 2019, p.114.

26 Sarantis Michalopoulos, “Tusk: With Friends like Trump, Who Needs Enemies,” May 17, 2017, https:// www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/tusk-with-friends-like-trump-who-needs-enemies/.

27 Zhou Hong, ed., European Union as a Power, p.5.

Searching for “European Sovereignty”: a Strategic Shift of the EU

Confronted with the profound shift in the international order and power structure and the risks of internal political and social disorder, the EU has advocated the concepts of “sovereign Europe” and “European sovereignty,” aiming to strengthen the EU’S capacity building while reshaping its foreign strategy.

29 Pierre Briancon, “Five Takeaways from Macron’s Big Speech on Europe’s Future,” September 26, 2017, https://www.politico.eu/article/5-takeaways-from-macrons-big-speech-on-europes-future/.

30 Andrés Ortega, “Macron, Champion of European Sovereignty,” September 5, 2017, https://blog. realinstitutoelcano.org/en/macron-champion-of-european-sovereignty/.

31 Jean-claude Junker, “State of the Union 2018: The Hour of European Sovereignty,” September 12, 2018,https://ec.europa.eu/commission/news/state-union-2018-hour-european-sovereignty-2018-sep-12_en.

32 Jean-claude Junker, “State of the Union 2018: The Hour of European Sovereignty.”

33 Mark Leonard, Jean Pisani-ferry, Elina Ribakova, Jeremy Shapiro and Guntram Wolff, “Securing Europe’s Economic Sovereignty,” pp.75-98.

34 Ursula von der Leyen, “Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission 2019-2024,” July 16, 2019,p.13,https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/political-guidelines-next-commission_ en.pdf.

35 Chrisitian Borggreen, “European Tech Sovereignty or Tech Protectionism,” October 30, 2019, http:// www.project-disco.org/european-union/103019-european-tech-sovereignty-or-tech-protectionism

36 Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro, “Strategic Sovereignty: How Europe Can Regain the Capacity to Act,” pp.13-14.

37 Zhou Hong, ed., European Union as a Power, pp. 4-13.

38 Zaki Laïdi, “Can Europe Learn to Play Power Politics.”

39 Rym Momtaz, “What Macron Plans for Europe,” December 16, 2019, https://www.politico.eu/article/ emmanuel-macron-europe-plans.

40 European Commission, “Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe.”

41 Sven Biscop, “A Geopolitical Commission: A Powerful Strategy?” September 16, 2019, http://www. egmontinstitute.be/a-geopolitical-commission-a-powerful-strategy/.

42 Niclas Frederic Poitiers, “Multilateralism in Crisis: The EU’S Response to Trade Wars,” in Carlo Altomonte and Antonio Villafranca, eds., Europe in Identity Crisis, the Future of the EU in the Age of Nationalism,december17,2019,https://www.ispionline.it/en/pubblicazione/europe-identity-crisis-futureeu-age-nationalism-24606.

43 Zaki Laïdi, “Can Europe Learn to Play Power Politics.”

44 Peter Teffer, “Rutte Warns EU to Embrace ‘Realpolitik’ Foreign Policy.”

45 European Parliament, “Implementation of the European Security Strategy and the Common Security and Defense Policy,” March 10, 2010,https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getdoc.do?pubref=-//ep// TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0061+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN.

46 European Commission, “Towards a More Competitive and Efficient Defense and Security Sector,” July 24, 2013, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/memo_13_722.

47 Council of the European Union, “Implementation Plan on Security and Defense,” November 14, 2016, https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/eeas/files/eugs_implementation_plan_st14392.en16_0.pdf.

48 Maïa de La Baume and David M. Herszenhorn, “Merkel Joins Macron in Calling for EU Army to Complement NATO,” November 14, 2018, https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-emmanuelmacron-eu-army-to-complement-nato.

49 “Macron Calls for ‘True European Army’ to Defend against Russia, US, China,” Euracive, November 7,2018,https://www.euractiv.com/section/defence-and-security/news/macron-calls-for-european-army-todefend-against-russia-us-china.

50 Moritz Luetgerath, “Why the Vision of European Strategic Autonomy Remains a Mirage,” March 30, 2019,https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/why-the-vision-of-european-strategic-autonomy-remainsa-mirage.

51 Sven Biscop, “The EU and Multilateralism in an Age of Great Powers,” July 2, 2018, http://www. egmontinstitute.be/content/uploads/2018/07/the-eu-and-mulitlateralism-in-an-age-of-great-powers-sven_ Biscop.pdf.

52 Sven Biscop, “The EU and Multilateralism in an Age of Great Powers.”

53 Council of the European Union, “EU Action to Strengthen Rules-based Multilateralism.”

54 France Diplomatie, “Alliance for Multilateralism,” https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreignpolicy/united-nations/alliance-for-multilateralism-63158.

55 Mark Leonard and Jeremy Shapiro, “Strategic Sovereignty: How Europe Can Regain the Capacity to Act,” p.14.

56 European Council, “A Strategic Agenda for the Union in Time of Change,” June 26/27, 2014, https:// www.consilium.europa.eu/media/39245/143477.pdf.

57 European Council, “A New Strategic Agenda: 2019-2024,” June 20, 2019, https://www.consilium. europa.eu/media/39914/a-new-strategic-agenda-2019-2024.pdf.

Europe Heading for “Protectionism”: Implications for Policies

The core objective of achieving a “sovereign Europe” is to integrate Europe’s power to accomplish the mission of protection, and to obtain autonomous power and competitive advantage. It emphasizes economic, technical and digital sovereignty and defense autonomy, etc. Therefore, the promotion of a “sovereign Europe” is manifested in the above-mentioned policy areas.

Geo-economic policy: further instrumentalization of the EU’S market force

60 Sébastien Jean, Philippe Martin and André Sapir, “International Trade under Attack: What Strategy for Europe?” August 28, 2018, https://bruegel.org/2018/08/international-trade-under-attack-what-strategy-foreurope.

61 Ursula von der Leyen, “Political Guidelines for the Next European Commission 2019-2024.”

62 Gerardo Fortuna, “A‘startup Mindset’is behind Battery Strategy, Says EU Official,” December 16, 2019, https://www.euractiv.com/section/batteries/news/a-startup-mindset-is-behind-battery-strategy-says-eu-official.

63 Joshua Posaner and Hanne Cokelaere, “Commission Approves PAN-EU Battery Project,” December 9, 2019, https://www.politico.eu/article/commission-approves-pan-eu-battery-project/.

64 European Commission, “Investing in a Smart, Innovative and Sustainable Industry: Renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy,” September 13, 2017, https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2017/en/ COM-2017-479-F1-EN-MAIN-PART-1.PDF.

65 Ye Bin, “Incompatibility of the EU Regulation on Screening Foreign Direct Investment with the Principle of Free Movement of Capital,” Chinese Journal of European Studies, No.5, 2019, p.84. 66 Claire Stam, “France, Germany Call for a Change of European Regulatory Rules,” February 19, 2019, https://www.euractiv.com/section/competition/news/france-germany-call-for-a-change-of-europeanregulatory-rules/.

67 European Commission, “Report on the Implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Batteries: Building a Strategic Battery Value Chain in Europe,”april 9, 2019, pp.1-2, https://ec.europa.eu/commission/ sites/beta-political/files/report-building-strategic-battery-value-chain-april2019_en.pdf.

68 European Commission, “Action Plan of the Immigration, Mobility and Employment Partnership (2008-2010),” October 2007, http://www.africa-eu-partnership.org/sites/default/files/documents/jaes_ action_plan_2008-2010.pdf.

69 “France’s Macron Pushes for ‘True European Army’,” BBC, November 13, 2018, https://www.bbc. com/news/world-europe-46108633.

70 Angela Merkel, “Speech in front of the European Parliament,” November 15, 2018, https://bruessel-eu. diplo.de/eu-en/-/2161514.

Conclusion

Under the discourse of pursuing a “sovereign Europe,” the EU will reshape its

foreign policy behavior, regardless of whether it is seeking to be a geopolitical actor or pursuing the new objective of strategic autonomy, whether it is forcefully promoting new strategies to safeguard multilateralism or rethinking the new directions of integration. All of these topics will eventually influence the future of the international power structure and the global order.