France steps up, leaves EU behind

There is no telling what will be the ultimate outcome of the Security Council's action on Lebanon, but it should be considered a success that the 15 states came to an agreement. Both Israel and Lebanon were willing to compromise (and the issue of prisoners was all but ignored), so common ground was finally found. Parties on both sides have been complaining that they got the short end of the stick, which is usually a sign of a good pact. We'll see how the next two weeks play out.

The resolution, drafted by France and the United States, made it possible. But France is an EU state - doesn't the EU have a Common Foreign and Security Policy?

Where was the EU?

There certainly was an opportunity. The war had gone on for weeks without sign of diplomatic solution, when this blog noted there was a golden moment for the EU to step in.

The Union did make an effort. The 25 states issued a joint statement on Aug. 1, calling for ceasefire. Russia did the same thing Aug. 11, however, and that gesture similarly accomplished nothing.

And the EU's proclomation wasn't as bold as most member states wanted it to be. Most foreign ministers wanted an immediate ceasefre, but Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Denmark gave that the thumbs-down. What the bloc ended up with was an immediate end to hostilities to be followed by a talks that lead to "sustainable ceasefire." Basically it was what France and the U.S. worked out more recently... but France and the U.S. have the clout to actually bring something to the Security Council and expect results.

It's Bosnia all over again.

Maybe next time, EU.

Update: In a historical context, French domination of European foreign relations makes perfect sense. That's been one of the stronger subplots of European cooperation in the post-war era. I could/should write up a history in the space below, but perhaps when I have a bit more free time.