Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 28 / Trend E. Ostapenko /
One of the EU's major objectives is to develop a unified foreign policy. However, this is not an easy task, ex-Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberg said.
"Forming a unified foreign policy is a goal for the future. One must work hard. Even Eurooptimists admit that it will be very difficult to do," Vike-Freiberg said in an interview with Ekho Planet.
Hopes for a more coordinated EU foreign policy are due to the Lisbon Treaty coming into force Dec. 1. The treaty is designed to reform EU power institutions and simplify the decision-making process.
The treaty addresses the opening of an EU foreign minister post to promote unification in Europe's foreign policy, Vike-Freiberg said.
She stressed that the position's responsibilities must not duplicate the European Commissioner's functions.
Former EU Trade Commissioner Baroness Catherine Ashton was elected EU foreign minister in late November.
Speaking about the EU's defense policy, Vike-Freiberg said the integration of the armed forces has not reached the level hoped by the EU due to economic doubts.