Between Actor and Presence: The European Union and the Future for the Transatlantic Relationship

Preface

Preface As the European Union becomes more integrated and continues its process of enlargement, questions concerning the nature of the "transatlantic" relationship are raised. Historically an integral part of Canadian foreign affairs, the European community currently poses a question for future Canadian relations: either as an actor or as a presence . Accounting for this changing relationship was the heart of the challenge faced by the contributors in this volume, all of whom addressed a particular aspect of Canadian-European relations. This book situates Canadian interests within the larger context of political change taking place in Europe, covering several seminal aspects of European political integration. Political relations, the process of integration and enlargement, military and defence links, and trade ties are all explored, leading to the conclusion that Canada—largely due to its focus on continental relations—now stands at the margins of European interests. In short, this book contextualizes the historical transatlantic relationship; explores in detail the process of integration and enlargement; addresses the implications of a Common Foreign and Security Policy for both European and Canadian interests; analyzes previously unaddressed concerns about defence industries, European defence and NATO, and ballistic missile defence; and clarifies the "myth" of transatlantic free trade. This volume is the result of a nine-month project involving 10 analysts from across Canada, prompted by the 1996 launch of the Intergovernmental Conference of the European Union. As the title suggests, the book takes a unique perspective in its presentation of the European Union: "between actor and presence." In broad terms, this perspective seeks to delineate between howwemight consider the EU as "actor" (a purposeful process ormechanism capable of exerting influence in the performance of its activities) or as a "presence" (a representation or condition of political influence). Each of the contributing articles applies this approach, resulting in a distinctive impression of VIII BETWEEN ACTOR AND PRESENCE the development of European integration, as well as its broad implications for Canadian interests and policy. There are a number of individualsto whom special thanks must be extended. At the University of Ottawa Press, Elizabeth Thebaud, Martine Beauchesne, Marie-Claire Borgo, Wladimir Nguyen, Lucie Turcotte, Marge Dunham-Landry,Veronica Schami, and—in particular —Vicki Bennett were instrumental in getting the book published. At the Universityof Manitoba, Pat Kruchak, Karijobin, and Barbara Lam were of great assistance in the organization of the contributors' conference; Pat also deserves thanks for her help in the preparation of the manuscript. I would also like to thank Steve Wolinetz, the Canadian Political Science Association, and the European Community Studies Association for their support for our roundtable discussion inJune 1997 in St.John's, Newfoundland.The Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy Development; the European Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada; and the European Commission in Canada helped fund segments of this project. This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Humanities and Social Sciences Federation of Canada, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. George A.MacLean Winnipeg, Manitoba November 2000 ...