The US retreat from Iraq signaled the limits of its engagement, and the problems in the EU’s immediate neighborhood – not just in Syria, but also to the east and the south – are now knocking on its door. So it would seem that the EU’s top priority should be to protect itself and help stabilize its environment.
二战结束后的几十年里，欧洲能够忽视其边界外的发展趋势：安全归美国管。但形势已有所不同。美国从伊拉克撤军表明了它的参与限度，而欧盟近邻——不仅包括叙利亚，也包括东部和南部周边地区——的问题已经影响到欧盟自身。因此，看起来欧盟最重要的重点应该是保护自身和帮助稳定其环境。