The EU and arms for China - NO WAY

As a member of the European Union, Spain is free (though wrong-headed) to think that lifting the embargo is a good way to suck up to China. As holder of the rotating presidency of the EU until July 1st, Spain also has every right to seek to influence the agenda on various policy areas, such as trade with China. But when it comes to the common foreign and security policy (CFSP) of the EU, the Lisbon Treaty makes it quite clear: it is time for countries that hold the rotating presidency to pipe down, and take a back seat.

Meetings of foreign ministers are chaired by Baroness Ashton, as High Representative. Move up a level from ministers, and when it comes to CFSP decisions by heads of state and government, responsibility for announcing those to the outside world falls under the new permanent president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy. This may sound arcane, but it is about something pretty simple: one of the big promises was that Lisbon would end the unhelpful cacophony of EU relations with big, important powers like China. Once the line from Europe stopped changing every six months with each new rotating presidency, the theory went, it would be easier for the union to "speak with one voice", in the well-worn phrase. Lifting the embargo would take consensus among the 27 members of the club. No such consensus exists.

Note EU-Digest: the EU could consider lifting the arms embargo with China if for starters they clean up their human rights act and allow free and complete access of its citizens to the internet without censorship. Mr. Zapatero certainly must be aware that putting Dracula in charge of the blood bank is not a very clever thing to do?

For the complete report: EU China arms embargo: The EU and arms for China | The Economist