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THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
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The influence of the socioeconomic environment
on the European Union’s foreign policy
Nowadays, the line between domestic and for-
eign has disappeared. Geopolitical, economic
and social factors influence foreign policy. The
international context is much more than mere
bilateral relations. That is why two events were
especially significant for the European Union in
the last few months.
First, the revelation by 108 media outlets of
the so-called Panama Papers, documents from
the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca that
exposed the way in which tax havens operate. It
is an issue on which the European Union can
and must apply effective pressure with a view to
their control and disappearance, as public opin-
ion increasingly demands.
Second, Brussels’ huge fine of 13 billion eu-
ros on the Apple company for having benefitted
from tax advantages in Ireland between 2003
and 2014, distorting competition. Both Apple
and the Irish Government, which had come to
an agreement on the penalised tax rules, have
appealed the decision, but the fine marks a
European Union milestone in the face of the
multinationals and the countries that act un-
fairly through tax advantages.
The new global strategy on European Union
Foreign and Security Policy
Taking a hugely important step, the High
Representative presented the European Council
in June 2016 with a new Global Strategy on
European Union Foreign and Security Policy, un-
der the name
Shared vision, common action: a
stronger Europe.
In it, Federica Mogherini – whose manage-
ment after two years in office the member
states, community institutions and public opin-
ion judge positively – says that the first justifica-
tion for it is the fact that “the purpose, even
existence, of our Union is being questioned”.
She works on the principle that none of the
member states of the Union can meet the chal-
lenges facing them alone.
The EU is presented as a global civilian and
military player, but with limited power. In fact,
the new Strategy formulates a concept of the
European Union on the international stage as a
“soft power” that uses its influence and incor-
porates various civilian and military instruments
to tackle international crises and conflicts.
Among the challenges that the EU must
face, it mentions terrorism, nuclear prolifera-
tion, regional conflicts, organised crime, cyber-
crime, piracy, energy security and climate
change. They are all global challenges, so the
Union is the natural framework for their resolu-
tion.
It also states that the EU cannot do it all
alone and proposes acting in a united manner
internally and promoting strategic alliances with
other countries and regional blocs.
The Strategy establishes five priorities for the
EU’s external action.
First, security in the broad sense. The threats
to the Union, consequently, go beyond military
threats. Thus, terrorism, hybrid threats, eco-
nomic volatility, climate change and energy in-
security are mentioned specifically. One of the
responses that the Strategy proposes is collec-
tive security of Europe that must come both
from the collective action of the member states
and cooperation within NATO.
The second priority is the state and societal
resilience of our neighbours to the east and
south. The Strategy establishes a clear link be-
tween the internal situation of the member
states and the stability and development of the