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Christian W.D. Bock and Leland R. Miller write for the Washington Post, calling Europe’s attitude to Africa ‘a facade’ - The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), according to Bock and Miller, ensures Europe can ’speak with one voice’ however, they continue by saying that is all the policy does, speak - is this another example of “soft-power” at work?

“CFSP actions require the unanimity of all E.U. member states, an uber-majority that all but eliminates the possibility of collective armed intervention. By defect or design, this allows member states to voice their concerns — and then excuse their inaction as bowing to the judgment of the whole.”

At this point, it’s important to note, that Bock and Miller’s criticism was made in two and a half years ago, in December 2004! What’s unfortunate, is that this article is just as relevant now, as it was then. In the meantime there has been little action on Darfur.

In effect the European Union has fashioned a foreign policy mechanism by which inaction is virtually automatic — even in the face of genocide.

On Sept 16, 2004, The EU Parliament declared that the actions of the Sudanese government in Darfur were “tantamount to genocide” and E.U. ministers threatened sanctions “if no tangible progress is achieved”.

So, what has happened since? Has the EU done anything to resolve problems resulting in hundreds of thousands of people being killed, and the millions who have been displaced? No. It hasn’t.

Local militias are destroying towns, and using rape and murder as a means of intimidation, shaking our heads and our fists by use of sanctions might just dent the rich, and that is questionable, but does nothing for those in urgent need of assistance. Urgent means “now”, not in “a few more weeks” as being proposed internationally.

It seems that the European Union is happy to bring about progressive internal reforms when they’re easy to do (and easy to sell), such as EU-wide roaming tariffs voted on this week, but why is it unwilling to do anything about Sudan? So is it unwilling, or worse, is it unable?

If under it’s current management and structures the European Union, as an entity formed to promote peace, prosperity and progress, cannot come together and decide about fundamental issues of what’s right and wrong, then what hope is there for the future or Sudan, or of Europe?

Further reading:

Darfur - Where is Europe? - (Washington Post) - December 8th, 2004

A Big Enough Stick for Sudan - (Washington Post) - May 30th, 2006