Winds of Change: The Europeanization of National Foreign Policy

Maastricht European Studies Papers 2007/01 Bennet Strang
collectively, which would imply greater Europeanization of foreign policies, the following
questions and suggestions will be proposed for further consideration.
Firstly, is “…‘the determination to preserve national foreign policies…ultimately at
odds with the ambition to create a European foreign policy [?]’…” (Allen quoted in White,
2001, p. 37). Secondly, as all member states have to concert in the same European orchestra,
who will be setting the tone, who will be deciding on the allocation of the roles to play and
who will be the (indirect) maestro (Mahncke, 2004)? 68 It is, thirdly, suggested that increasing
elite socialization and the eventual establishment of the EEAS will result both in long-term
convergence in European foreign thinking and a more integrated and comprehensive EFP.
This might currently be observed at the example of the EU’s role in the Iranian affair.
Speaking with one voice, Europe has obviously learned from its mistakes in the run-up to the
recent Iraq War. In this regard, it is not surprising anymore that Mr Solana went to Teheran,
as initially suggested. Moreover, if Europeans get increasingly used to seeing EU
representatives play a visible role in world affairs, this might be a first step in ‘socializing’
them in a European sense.
68 The cacophony of uncoordinated national voices during the Iraq crisis has exemplarily highlighted
how weak Europe is, if it does not speak with one voice.
20