This paper examines
and expands upon the legal options for enhancing coherence and effectiveness
within the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) by leveraging existing
decisionmaking procedures. In response to calls from European Union (EU)
institutions and several Member States, it explores avenues within the current
treaty framework to improve CFSP performance and overcome blockages caused by
the unanimity rule. Beyond evaluating the potential use of Qualified Majority
Voting (QMV) in CFSP, the paper also highlights the EU’s recent efforts to
employ trade instruments for foreign policy objectives, as well as the
increasing role of the Commission in the Union’s security and defence policy.
The central argument of this paper is that the coherence between various Union
policies serves as the key to improving its effectiveness in foreign and
security policy.