About: external policy

Turkish politician: EU approach towards Black Sea a ‘major disappointment’

The EU lacks a concerted policy towards the Black Sea region and is becoming increasingly fragile, inward-looking and even Islamophobic, Suat Kiniklioglu, deputy chairman for external affairs in Turkey's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party, told EURACTIV Germany in an exclusive interview.

Institutions wrestle over EU’s first ‘foreign ministry’

As the Swedish EU Presidency prepares to test the ground for the new 'European External Action Service' (EEAS) at the October EU summit next week, the European Parliament rushed to adopt a resolution today (22 October), marking its territory on the future EU diplomatic corps.

Parliament wants more visibility for EU external aid

Urged by MEPs to make the external aid action of the EU more visible, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner conceded that this was her "greatest challenge" and outlined her ideas on how to "show the flag" more in future.

The EU, China and the quest for a multilateral world

The accelerated rise of the Chinese economy and the deepening of its relationship with the EU are likely to facilitate a change of forces in the international system and help promote the multipolarisation of international relations, argued panelists at a 2006 IFRI conference entitled "The EU, China and the quest for a multilateral world."

The EU’s external migration policy and the Med-MENA countries

The EU has seen a shift towards "an externalisation of migration policy" towards the Mediterranean countries of the Middle East and North Africa (Med-MENA) – as proven by current Association Agreements – according to a study by Ounia Doukouré and Helen Oger for the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies.

‘The war and peace’ of EU-Russia relations

The Portuguese presidency will not be able to change the substance of relations between the EU and Russia in the next six months, says Elena Prokhova in an 11 July paper for the EU-Russia Centre. However, this period will represent the start of a much-needed period of reflection by both sides, she argues.

Strengthening EU citizens’ rights abroad

This paper, published by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), outlines the necessity of reviewing the diplomatic and consular protection rights of EU citizens, enshrined in Article 20 of the European Community Treaty. The document is based on the CEPS response to the Commission's Green Paper on the diplomatic and consular protection of EU citizens in third countries, adopted in November 2006.

EU-Russia relations: Cold peace?

The EU's relations with Russia should be analysed with regards to the EU's role as a global actor, writes Quentin Perret, from the Robert Shuman Foundation. He points to the US as a key factor in maintaining good relations.

The EU and Kazakhstan: economic co-operation and democratic reforms

There is still progress to be made in Kazakhstan if it is to continue down the road to reform, writes Bhavna Dave in a May 2007 paper for the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS).

Transnistria on the brink: Sheriffs vs Patriots

The Moldovan opposition newspaper Vremya predicts conflict among the leaders of the tiny breakaway republic Transnistria, putting the region on the brink of an economic and political crisis, according to a Transitions Online analysis. 

Eurozone must take leadership to face global economic challenges

The euro area economy is finally emerging from a five year period of sluggish growth but challenges remain, both internally and externally. 

Analysis: Tensions in EU External Relations Competences

In a policy-oriented analysis, Dr Simon Duke (EIPA, Maastricht) looks at conflicts of competences and “grey areas” between the Community and the more ‘intergovernmental pillars’ on which the Union establishes its external relations - and how to remedy them.

Convention to tackle external policy and defence

The European Convention will deal with the issues of external policy and defence, and set up four new working groups at its next working session on 10-11 July.