It is undeniable that European involvement in the region has increased over the last years, something that can be measured in regard to economic aid and political engagement. The efforts during Germany’s presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2007 to revive the Quartet (the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia) and to get Syria into the process, are notable here. There has even been involvement in the security field; the EU runs two European security and defense policy (ESDP) missions in Palestine, and there is a strong European participation in the United Nations peacekeeping forces in Lebanon (Unifil). …
At the same time, Europe’s ability to influence events on the ground seems rather limited… This, partly the consequence of the EU’s recurrent inability to act as a single body in the Middle East, results in Europe’s damaging loss of leverage over important actors. …
There is no more lamenting about Europe being a "payer, but not a player;" nor any mention of any other diplomatic role except the support of American efforts through the Quartet. Some of these instruments in the EU’s toolbox will indeed become more important once a point "beyond peace" is reached. But a more active diplomatic role is also needed. What might this look like? One way to approach this is - starting from the instruments and institutions the European Union has at hand. Access the full article>>