The Reform Treaty: Its Impact on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

Abstract

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) was created in 1993 by the Maastricht Treaty1 as the second of the three pillars that shapes the European Union. The main coordinator of the CFSP is the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (High Representative CF/SP). Under the ¨European Constitution¨ the pillar structure was going to disappear, which meant that the role of the CFSP would be further incorporated into the functions of the rest of the Union. Moreover, the office of the High Representative was going to be merged with the post of the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs to create a “Union Minister for Foreign Affairs.” However, the project of the ¨European Constitution¨ is programmed to be transformed into a ¨Reform Treaty¨. This paper will examine how the “Reform Treaty” will modify the functions of the CFSP, the position of High Representative CF/SP, and its role on the international stage.Reform treaty, CFSP, European Constitution, High Representative of the Union