The 1990s Policy Revisions: Institutions and Actors

Abstract

The opening chapter of this book disaggregated the various actors in the policy making process; a similar approach is adopted in this chapter. The central question that stems from this approach is whether the disaggregation of actors and institutions necessarily implies policy fragmentation, or whether there is coherence between the different policy making components. Obviously, not all actors are of equal importance in the foreign policy process, and decisions, at least formally, are elite based emphasizing the intergovernmental nature of foreign policy coordination. The complexity of the member state inputs or the operation of the Council demands an analysis specifically dedicated to these topics. The focus of this chapter is not upon these prominent actors. While the Council of Ministers is constrained by member state interests, comparatively minor actors can and do have an influential role to play, either as suppliers of specific information (for example, third country delegations) or as watchful critics (such as the Parliament) provoking action for an otherwise recalcitrant EPC/CFSP procedure. Thus while acknowledging the exclusive decision-making role played by the Council, supported by COREPER, the Political Committee and the Council Secretariat, the pertinent actors examined here are: the Commission; member state third country delegations; ECOMSA and the Programme Coordination Office; the Commission Delegation in Pretoria; and, the European Parliament.