Edited Volume by
Dimitris Xenakis and Michael
Tsinisizelis
Editorial
Introduction on
Editorial Conclusions on
It is often suggested that the milestone of European Union’s (EU) foreign policy
are the external activities that derive from its’ economic/financial weight and
commercial influence. The EU's external policies are implemented through
different instruments and have had differing characteristics and effects in
different parts of the world. But is it only the EU’s external relations that
provide it with the political weight it exerts in the world? The Treaties
commit the EU to protecting and projecting its identity and interests on the
world stage as a contribution to peace and stability. Through its Common
Foreign and Security Policy the EU has involved itself in political questions
around the world. Moreover, the EU has also been committed to play a more
important role in international security, with the creation of the European
Security and Defence Policy and with possibility of developing a common defence
identity and, perhaps, even a common defence.
One of the main research aims of this edited
volume is also to provide with a better understanding of the multiple
dimensions of Europe’s international relations by exploring the
interrelationships between the policy-making processes and the range of foreign
policies developed by the EU that encompass the external relations and foreign,
security and defence policies. This project pulls
together different views of the international European system and relates the
resulting evaluation to questions, such as: What roles does the EU play in
international affairs? What have we learned about the EU’s practice of external
relations? What does this say about the nature and the future of the EU as an
international actor?
This edited volume critically examines the international role of the EU through
detailed analyses both of the various forms of external action and of the way
these are deployed in various parts of the world. It thoroughly examines the
institutions involved in the foreign and security policy-making process as well
as the policies that have been developed through different regional
perspectives. The aim is to provide with an in-depth understanding of the
external economic relations and foreign, security and defence
policies of the EU. It attempts to establish a critical appreciation of the
EU’s international role and how this development has been related to
international relations and processes. The contents range to cover both
developments across time and across the different international political and
economic systems.
Since the
EU spends much of its energy on external affairs seeking to assert its
identity, the relations with the rest of the globe is an issue of increasing
relevance to both academic and practitioner communities. Lecturers are likely
to find it a useful textbook, and a useful reference
point for the ever-increasing research community on EU international affairs.
It could be used as a textbook at undergraduate level and for several of the
increasing number of specialist postgraduate courses and programmes
of study in EU politics and international/transnational
governance in greek higher education institutions.
Contributors
are all experts in their fields, with backgrounds in european foreign policy, international relations,
security studies, global governance, international economics and law. They
include both young and established scholars from various universities,
including some of the leading authorities in their field. The study is
empirically balanced with foreign policy-makers and experts, including senior
officials and advisors from the Directorate General for European External
Relations of the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as, directors and
senior analysts from leading greek
economic and foreign policy institutes.
Editors
Contributors
in alphabetical order:
Project Duration: January 2004 – March 2005 – Publication
May 2006.
Prof. M.
Tsinisizelis - mictsin@hol.gr
Dr. D.
Xenakis - dxenakis@otenet.gr