The United States: an EU busybody
It’s always seemed odd — and unseemly — that U.S. officials feel obliged to comment publicly on European Union membership decisions and processes. In the Balkans recently, Hillary Clinton touted Serbia’s credentials for EU membership. In Kosovo, she reportedly told an audience that "you will find a strong advocate in me, constantly telling my European colleagues and ...
It's always seemed odd -- and unseemly -- that U.S. officials feel obliged to comment publicly on European Union membership decisions and processes. In the Balkans recently, Hillary Clinton touted Serbia's credentials for EU membership. In Kosovo, she reportedly told an audience that "you will find a strong advocate in me, constantly telling my European colleagues and friends that they must continue to reach out (to the Balkans)." In Serbia, she declared that "EU membership could help transform Serbia’s economy and anchor the entire region in Europe....we are absolutely convinced, not only that Serbia can become a member of the EU but also a leader in Europe."
It’s always seemed odd — and unseemly — that U.S. officials feel obliged to comment publicly on European Union membership decisions and processes. In the Balkans recently, Hillary Clinton touted Serbia’s credentials for EU membership. In Kosovo, she reportedly told an audience that "you will find a strong advocate in me, constantly telling my European colleagues and friends that they must continue to reach out (to the Balkans)." In Serbia, she declared that "EU membership could help transform Serbia’s economy and anchor the entire region in Europe….we are absolutely convinced, not only that Serbia can become a member of the EU but also a leader in Europe."
Clinton’s comments were relatively mild compared to those of some of her predecessors. In the recent past, U.S. officials have all but shouted their view that the EU should welcome Turkey into the fold. From the U.S. perspective, an EU expansion into the Balkans and toward Turkey makes all sorts of sense. An EU embrace of the Balkans could smother the region’s security problems and nettlesome territorial questions within the broader organization, reducing the likelihood that U.S. troops will again be called upon to intervene. And a clearer path to EU membership for Turkey might help to cement that country’s wobbly pro-Western orientation.
But leaving aside the merits of the U.S. position — which can be debated — is it appropriate or wise for the United States to publicly counsel Europe on who to admit and who to keep out of its club? It is not the United States, after all, that will have to deal with the demographic, social, and economic challenges of integrating these areas into the Union. Can you imagine how unwelcome it would be if European diplomats opined constantly about whether and how the United States should expand NAFTA? Obviously, the United States will have preferences, and it should certainly state those in private, but the public meddling strikes me as counterproductive — and just plain rude.
Update: One European commenter is quite forgiving: "…as a pro-European European I don’t have a problem with the US expressing its interests in EU expansion. So long as they don’t cross the line from advocating to demanding, I don’t see what the harm is."
David Bosco is a professor at Indiana University’s Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. He is the author of The Poseidon Project: The Struggle to Govern the World’s Oceans. Twitter: @multilateralist
More from Foreign Policy
Can Russia Get Used to Being China’s Little Brother?
The power dynamic between Beijing and Moscow has switched dramatically.
Xi and Putin Have the Most Consequential Undeclared Alliance in the World
It’s become more important than Washington’s official alliances today.
It’s a New Great Game. Again.
Across Central Asia, Russia’s brand is tainted by Ukraine, China’s got challenges, and Washington senses another opening.
Iraqi Kurdistan’s House of Cards Is Collapsing
The region once seemed a bright spot in the disorder unleashed by U.S. regime change. Today, things look bleak.
Sign up for World Brief
FP’s flagship evening newsletter guiding you through the most important world stories of the day. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
