On Monday, July 22, the EU foreign ministers met and voted to add Hezbollah to the EU terrorism list. The form and timing of the decision reflected the style and contradictions of Europe’s foreign policy. The decision distinguished between Hezbollah’s military wing — which was placed on the terrorism list — and its political wing. Europe in effect recognized Hezbollah’s presence in the Lebanese government and the party's position as a legitimate representative of the Shiite community.

Distinguishing between military and political wings reveals that Europe has a different style from its US partner. It also reveals that there are disagreements among the Europeans. Although many say that Europe is economically integrated (under the banner of a single currency) and is economically united, especially in light of the global financial crisis, Europe remains a confederation of states, each of which has a unique history, whether colonial or cooperative, in the Middle East. Each European state likes to maintain an independent foreign policy because they consider it a pillar of national sovereignty.

Whenever Europe agrees on a position, it discovers that that it lacks the operational tools to implement it. That was the case even when the Yugoslav war in the 1990s almost reached Europe’s interior. Had the US not intervened militarily, the Yugoslav war would still be going on.

There is no doubt that the European decision sought to move the EU closer to the US. The decision probably came as a result of pressure by certain American parties in light of the conflict with Iran and how to confront it. The decision was also intended to achieve a unified position on the Syrian crisis.