Berlin Foreign Policy Forum 2014

Expectations are particularly high at premieres; the same can be said of the first visit to Germany by the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. The German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, put his arm around “Dear Federica” in support as soon as he arrived at the meeting. Steinmeier, aware of the opinion that the former Italian foreign minister was too inexperienced for her new post, was attempting to dispel any remaining doubt. Steinmeier stressed, “I’ve known her for quite some time, and we have often discussed German, European and international politics.” However, it quickly became clear that Mogherini was in no need of such support. She took to the podium at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum to provide a keynote speech, and it was received with much applause. During her speech, Mogherini affirmed that, “We have to overcome the idea that national interests are in collision with Europe.” She also reminded the audience that the EU and its member states were “on the same side.”

Steinmeier, Mogherini’s 58-year-old colleague, pointed out that Mogherini, a political scientist, was likely to face more crises in Europe during her five-year-term than Steinmeier had experienced since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Although 25 five years have passed since the end of the East-West conflict, hostile Cold War imagery is threatening to return. Christoph Heusgen, Angela Merkel’s foreign and security policy adviser, as well as Norbert Röttgen, the chairman of the Bundestag’s Committee on Foreign Affairs criticised the Russian government in surprisingly clear terms. Although hopes had been expressed that Russian and European economic interdependence would lead to a convergence of values and policy approaches, Röttgen made his view on this very clear: “We were wrong.” Russia’s policy during the Ukraine crisis demonstrated that more than two decades of economic, political and military cooperation had not resulted in substantial rapprochement. However, Röttgen also argued that Europe was also responsible, as “Despite these experiences and a clearer analysis we are still inclined to follow these illusions.”

Heusgen criticized Russia for not intervening “more constructively” in the Syrian conflict. He reminded that “Without Russian support and arms sales, Bashar al-Assad would not be able to survive.” Just as Saudi Arabia had provided the dictator Ben Ali with the opportunity to leave Tunisia, Russia should use its relations with Assad and grant him exile. Heusgen pointed out that Russia had already been asked to do just that.

Given growing tensions between Russia and the West, Mogherini harshly criticized the “black-and-white mentality” that had dominated politics until 1989. Europe’s new foreign policy chief argued that this approach “doesn’t work anymore.” Instead, she emphasized that Europe was in a good position to transform its diversity into strength: “We have to use more national initiatives and include them in a European perspective.” Mogherini stressed that Brussels should not be primarily responsible for setting European foreign policy; its main responsibility should be coordinating it. Her arguments even convinced people who view the European External Action Service with skepticism. Jonathan Holslag, from the Free University of Brussels, tweeted that he was “impressed” and during the panel on security in Asia he declared that Europe provided a “source of inspiration” for Asia.

Mogherini is adept on both the international and European stage. The 41-year-old is convinced that jealous struggles between member states over authority and controlling influence in matters of European foreign policy must be overcome. She maintained “Our unity is our strength.” Mogherini also emphasized unity as “the best response” to Russia, a point she views as having been confirmed by current sanctions. At the same time, she called for stronger support for Ukraine. Wolfgang Ischinger, chairman of the Munich Security Conference, also encouraged Europe to take unanimous future action. He called for the foundation of a “real contact group, classic style” to be set up under the auspices of the OSCE. This group would include Russia, the US and the EU, and place Ukraine at its focus. Ischinger reminded that negotiation between a very strong state and a very weak one “is never a good idea in diplomacy.”

Mogherini wants to ensure that EU countries not only share the past, but also the future. What may sound simple in theory actually poses a great challenge. However, she has an important ally on her side: Steinmeier maintained, “It is only in and through Europe that German foreign policy can be fully effective in the future; and only together that we can achieve global significance.” Steinmeier continued by arguing that German support was essential if 28 members with 28 different memories and interests are to develop a unified foreign policy. He closed by promising, “Dear Federica, we will continue to make every endeavor to support your efforts.”

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