Sun Sep 15 08:30:44 UTC 2024: ## EU Foreign Policy Needs a Reboot: New Report Calls for Overhaul

**Brussels, [Date]** – A new report by the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) has urged the incoming EU leadership to undertake a complete overhaul of the bloc’s foreign policy, arguing that the current approach is not equipped to handle the rapidly changing international landscape.

“The EU is struggling, the EU is losing ground,” said Steven Everts, director of the EUISS and a former advisor to EU High Representative Josep Borrell. “This is a failure to adapt at a scale that is required because the international environment is worsening at a far more rapid pace than the EU was able to cope with.”

The report, titled “10 Ideas for the New Team,” proposes a range of changes, including:

* **Rethinking outdated frameworks:** The report calls for a re-evaluation of policies like the European Neighbourhood Policy and the adoption of more tailored partnerships, particularly in the Mediterranean region.
* **Strengthening energy resilience:** The EU must bolster its energy security, particularly in light of the ongoing energy crisis.
* **Countering Russian influence:** The report proposes a radical new eastern policy that would upgrade the current Eastern Partnership framework and speed up the integration of candidate countries.
* **Overhauling security policies:** The EUISS suggests integrating energy, migration, and defense under a cohesive strategy and creating a “council for the defense of Europe,” composed of EU leaders.
* **Rethinking civilian and military missions:** The report argues that the EU should focus on fewer, more effective missions and operations, primarily in candidate and neighboring countries.

The report also raises concerns about the EU’s diplomatic service (EEAS) which has long struggled with budget management, capacity, and member state infighting. Everts warned that further budget cuts could cripple the EEAS’s ability to defend EU interests abroad.

**Beyond Foreign Policy:**

The report’s recommendations come at a time of significant geopolitical and economic uncertainty. The war in Ukraine, the rise of China, and the ongoing energy crisis are all putting pressure on the EU to adapt and strengthen its position on the global stage.

The report also highlights the need for the EU to address issues such as:

* **Russian sanctions:** The EU is struggling to agree on how to manage frozen Russian assets, which could potentially be used to fund Ukraine’s recovery.
* **Iranian missiles:** The EU is considering new sanctions against Iran in response to its alleged transfer of ballistic missiles to Russia.
* **NATO’s shortcomings:** NATO’s outgoing chief, Jens Stoltenberg, has acknowledged that the alliance could have done more to prepare Ukraine for the Russian invasion.
* **EU defense industry reform:** A new report by EU defense companies has called for greater government support for research and innovation, as well as a “buy-European” preference to strengthen the bloc’s defense industry.
* **EU enlargement:** While the Draghi report focused on boosting EU competitiveness, it largely disregarded the issue of enlargement, which experts say is crucial for the EU’s future.

The report’s recommendations serve as a wake-up call for the EU to address its shortcomings and adapt its policies to the evolving global landscape. Failure to do so could lead to a further decline in the EU’s influence and its ability to defend its interests.

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