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Can Britain lead in Europe?
demilitarisation of Cypriot air space; the Turkish Cypriots would join the Greek Cypriots in negotiating both entry into the Union and a federal constitution for Cyprus; the EU would arrange a special programme of economic assistance for Northern Cyprus; Greece would unblock financial aid that the EU has long promised to Turkey; the EU would assure Turkey that it will be able to join the club when it meets the many criteria that it does not currently meet; and the Turkish government would admit that it has to work hard in order to make the grade for membership. The major impediment to more coherent and effective European foreign policies has undoubtedly been the lack of political will among the 15 governments. But institutional arrangements can, at the margin, make a difference. The current Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) machinery does not work well: the presidency rotates from country to country every six months; a “troika” of foreign ministers from the past, present and future presidencies represents the Union; a small secretariat within the Council of Ministers attempts to co-ordinate policy; and the Commission, which takes the lead on the economic side of foreign policy, is kept at arm’s length. The Amsterdam treaty contains some promising ideas for improving these arrangements. It introduces majority voting for decisions concerning the implementation of agreed policies; a procedure for “constructive abstention”, so that a country can dissociate itself from a decision rather than veto it; a central policy-planning unit, to encourage EU foreign ministers to develop common analyses; and the post of a “high representative” for foreign policy—known as “Mr CFSP”—to act as spokesman for the EU. Britain and France, as the EU members with the most experienced diplomatic corps, are ideally suited to guide the implementation of these reforms. Tony Blair seems to have taken this point on board. Speaking in the Hague on 20 January, just before the Iraqi crisis became serious, he said: “On external policy the EU must be both effective and seen to be effective internationally…We must equip Europe with better machinery. This means the right candidate to be the EU’s voice on common foreign and security policy issues, and the right back-up.” Some EU foreign ministers, jealous of their own power, are calling for “Mr CFSP” to be a mere official. But in order to be effective the high