Why a common security and defence policy is bad for Europe

Some European policymakers have been tempted to use the Iraq crisis to build new momentum for further integrating European security and defence policy. But proceeding along this path would be a mistake. Adding military force to the European Union at a time of fundamental disagreement about where and when to deploy troops is a waste of resources and will likely undermine European credibility by deepening divisions among its member states. If Europeans want more global clout, they should instead focus on strengthening their capacity for what they do best, namely non-military crisis-management and post-war reconstruction.