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FOREIGN POLICY
role in constructively advancing European
icy, who chairs the Council of Foreign Min-
policy.
isters, is also Vice-President of the European
Commission. Italian Federica Mogherini has
German-Polish collaboration is a more re-
held this office since 2014. She is also respon-
cent element in the European unification
sible for representing the EU externally on
process. In the 1970s, Federal Chancellor
all CFSP issues. A newly established European
Willy Brandt’s Ostpolitik achieved initial
External Action Service (EEAS) assists the
successes in reconciliation with Poland.
High Representative in discharging her duties.
This was continued by the recognition of
Through these institutional innovations the
the two countries’ common border in the
EU has considerably strengthened its visibility
Two Plus Four Treaty on the external as-
and efficacy outside its own territory. It has
pects of German Unity in 1990, and with
also advanced its crisis management. Under
the Border Treaty concluded the same year
the aegis of the EU, several foreign assign-
and institutionalised in the 1991 German-
ments with German participation have al-
Polish Treaty on Good Neighbourliness.
ready been conducted.
The close relationships with France and Poland are nurtured in the trilateral format of
A focal point of EU policy is to foster re-
the Weimar Triangle.
lations with the organisation’s eastern
neighbours and the countries bordering
More global weight through
eastern and southern Mediterranean rim.
joint European action
With regard to this Neighbourhood Policy,
migration and the fight against terrorism
The 2009 Treaty of Lisbon institutionalised
are increasingly being prioritised. Irregular
the Common Foreign and Security Policy
immigration to Europe is a pan-European
(CFSP) still further. The EU High Represen-
issue. To this end, in April and June 2015,
tative for Foreign Affairs and Security Pol-
the European Council passed a comprehen-
MILESTONES
1957
1979
1993
The European unification process
begins. The signing of the Treaties
of Rome by Belgium, Germany,
France, Italy, Luxembourg, and
the Netherlands marks the foundation of the European Economic
Community (EEC).
Europeans vote together. The
Members of the European Parliament, which sits in Strasbourg
and Brussels, are directly elected
for the first time. They had previously been delegated by the
national parliaments.
Europe’s union becomes tangible
for its citizens. In Schengen in
Luxembourg, Germany, France
and the Benelux countries agree
to end internal border controls.
Other countries follow.