After Amsterdam: A Report on the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union

One of the objectives of the 1996-1997 Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) was to improve the functioning of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). This was expressly foreseen in the Maastricht Treaty with regard to defence problems. The mandate of the IGC was in fact much broader. The results, however, have been quite limited. To give a quick summary, the intergovernmental nature of the CFSP has not been modified. The Treaty of Amsterdam has rationalized the CFSP instruments. The system of qualified majority voting has been simplified, but still allows the use of national vetoes. It has complicated both the decision-making and implementation processes. Finally, a slightly improved long-term perspective on the integration of defence has been exchanged for an equally slightly improved confirmation of NATO's supremacy in the defence realm. The first part of this report looks at the stakes of the debate. The solutions adopted are then examined in the second part. This analysis enables us to draw clear conclusions regarding the objectives of the CFSP and the requirements they imply for the Member States.