A critical assessment of the EU ESDP : 1998-2005

Abstract

This dissertation is a researched strategic study of the ESDP dimension of the EU CFSP for the period 1998-2005. The focus is on the political and military achievements and setbacks that resulted during the first six years of the ESDP. The economics of the ESDP are discussed in terms of their effect on organisation, planning and operations. The political, military and economic constraints shall also be introduced early on in the work so that any value judgements take into consideration the substantial existing limitations. Furthermore, both the changing (and often self-conflicting) rhetoric, us well us the organisational and operational actions of the ESDP, shall be inspected prima facie. In this manner, the words on ESDP may be dismissed if not substantiated by the deeds of the Member States and institutions of the ESDP. Through this method, it is hoped that a filtered assessment and true picture of the ESDP at the end of 2005 may be produced. In essence, therefore, the study tackles the specific question whether the EU ESDP has performed well (and, if so, to what extent) by first analysing the aims of ESDP and its constraints; determining whether the objectives were achieved, and, if not, establishing the reasons for their failure. The author concludes that the EU ESDP has achieved a fair degree of success. Its energetic development and the substantial political (if not economic and military) support offered by most of the EU 25 to-date, ensure that, at the very least, the Union in 2006 has the real potential and capacity to exert some global political-military strategic influence. This case could hardly be argued even a decade ago.