Handbook on EU External Actions and Policies

In a rapidly changing and highly uncertain world, the EU’s external action has grown ever more complex, diverse and dynamic. This forward-thinking Handbook highlights the ways in which the EU is adapting to new challenges and the constraints that shape its foreign policies.

Bringing together multilevel analyses, chapters depart from the long-standing focus on the EU’s uniqueness in the international arena, broadening the understanding of EU action beyond the traditional notions of civilian, normative and market power. Contributing authors investigate high-profile policy areas, including trade, defence, migration, energy and climate, underlining emerging issues and engaging with ongoing debates on EU foreign policy. Examining the agency of individuals and groups across Europe, shaped by diverse identities and professional cultures, the Handbook captures the processes in which strategies are translated into actionable instruments, programmes and agreements.

The Handbook on EU External Actions and Policies is an essential read for scholars and students of EU studies, international relations and political science. It is also an enlightening reference for policymakers seeking an enriched and nuanced understanding of the EU’s global engagement.