European Common Foreign and Security Policy – The UK Point of View

In 2007 the EU Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation continues its “Böll Lunch Lectures” with a series on “European Common Foreign and Security as seen from various European Capitals”. Since the negative referendums in France and the Netherlands on the European Constitution, the future of CFSP is vague. Will the European Union revive the concepts of an EU Foreign minister and a European External Action Service (EEAS) as foreseen in the Constitution and, if not, what chances are there for a serious CFSP as long as decisions can be vetoed by any of the now 27 Member States?

After the kick-off event dealing with the German point of view, this second debate will focus on the UK point of view and how it is received elsewhere in Europe and in the United States. Questions under discussion will be: ·
- What is the interest of the UK in CFSP?
- Does the UK want an EU Foreign Minister and an EU
  External Diplomatic Service as foreseen in the EU
  Constitution?
- How will UK Foreign and Security policy develop
  under a new prime minister in terms of commitment
  to CFSP  and in terms of commitment to the USA?

Speakers:
Professor Anand Menon, director of the European Research Instituteat Birmingham University and
Dr. Ronald D. Asmus, Executive Director, Transatlantic CenterThe German Marshall Fund of the United States
Discussant:  Andrew Beatty, Journalist Foreign Affairs, European Voice
Chair: Claude Weinber, Director EU Regional Office Heinrich Böll Foundation