About: EU diplomacy

Open strategic autonomy: what is in a name?

The United States, as the EU’s closest and most powerful ally, will be an essential partner in the EU’s pursuit of open strategic autonomy, writes Susan Danger.

EU will resolve embassy row with UK despite ‘unfriendly signal’, says Borrell

The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, insisted on Monday (25 January) that the EU and UK would resolve a diplomatic row over the status of the bloc’s ambassador to London, though he warned that the UK’s intransigence was “not a friendly signal”.

World countries and institutions pledge €3.1 bn for Venezuelan refugees

A virtual International Donors Conference in solidarity with Venezuelan refugees and migrants raised €3.1 billion Tuesday (26 May) from more than 60 countries and institutions to assist the displaced population of the South American country. “We have to be proud...

US returns diplomatic status of EU representative in Washington

After downgrading the EU's diplomatic status last year, the US administration on Monday (4 March) said it had returned the EU representative in Washington back to the status of a national ambassador.

EU needs to act now to salvage Iran nuclear deal

The Iran nuclear deal seems to have gone down the drain after the withdrawal of the US. European governments need to unify behind a more assertive diplomatic strategy if they are to have any influence in forthcoming US policy on Iran. Ellie Geranmayeh points out six key actions the EU should prioritise on  to potentially save the deal.

Dancing with bears: Mogherini sketches future EU foreign policy

In a three-hour hearing in the European Parliament, Italy’s Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative-designate in charge of Foreign affairs and Security Policy, seems to have convinced MEPs that the Union needs a mix of hard and soft power, to lead in world affairs.

A European diplomatic service in quest of a foreign policy

The Lisbon Treaty introduced a major institutional innovation in the field of external relations by creating a common diplomatic service, the European External Action Service (EEAS). During the past 20 months this service has progressively been set up. With some 3,000 officials and an annual budget of around €500 million, it is still small but unique in its talents and language skills.

German ‘wise men’ criticise EU’s timid diplomacy

Hans-Dietrich Genscher, a German political veteran who served as foreign minister throughout the 1970s and 80s, says Europe should assume its role on the global stage if it wants its future diplomatic service to work. He spoke to EURACTIV.de in an interview alongside Joschka Fischer, another ex-German foreign minister, and former Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel.

Monitoring elections boosts EU’s world image, says top official

The long-standing engagement of the European Union in observing elections around the world will continue during EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton's mandate, the acting director-general for foreign affairs (RELEX) at the European Commission Karel Kovanda told EURACTIV in an interview.