Although the evolution continued to be a relatively slow one, the final adoption of a constitutional treaty of a federal nature contributed decisively to boost the European foreign policy. A forum to define European interests, as well as an effective decision-making process was secured. Not only was there an end to the duality between the European Commission and the Council in terms of foreign policy, but the new minister of foreign affairs was given increasingly effective tools, such as a mechanism to be able to use trade as a powerful pressure tool, as well as a credible early intervention force, the new European Army. The most important development was, however, the increasing cooperation in all worldwide forums and, particularly, in the United Nations. The EU continued reinforcing the coordination of all of its members to be able to speak with one voice. Other countries followed the pattern, and finally institutional changes fortified this behaviour resulting in the regionalization of the UN, reflected by the rotating membership in the Security Council.

The grave danger of a second war in Kosovo led all EU members to get their act together.

While the Balkans had suffered from the inability of Europeans to act in the foreign and security policy front in the 1990’s, the consolidation of the EU as a credible actor in international politics enhanced the possibilities for reconciliation also in the Balkans. Major developments in the conflict reconciliation in Europe were still defined by biological facts. It took one generation – the one which had lived through the wars – before the war-ridden Balkan countries could speak credibly about ceasefire, and thus for a certain time the “two tracks” were a reality. Of paramount importance was, however, the final trial of all war criminals. Even if it was still on the Pinochet style, it made a meaningful confrontation of the collective past possible in this area.

Notwithstanding the internal factors, the positive developments in European integration gave a very clear political signal that forced cooperation. The grave danger of a second war in Kosovo led all EU members to get their act together.

The decisive development for the neighbourhood policy was the clearing up of the institutional structure that the ratification of the European Constitution brought along after the second Convention in 2026. The institutional response to the emerging two blocks made a federal core possible with an extended ring and the final integration of the “old member states” and new ones, countries such as Ukraine or Turkey.

This article was initially published in the “Flourishing Europe” version of the Daily European. See the entire newspaper in pdf format here.