European Foreign Policy in an Evolving International System contributes to the understanding of recent developments in European foreign policy and offers an assessment of the role of the European Union as a global actor in the post-Cold War era. The volume provides the reader with a comprehensive and topical array of case studies on European Union foreign policy. The contributions, written by experts in the area, analyse the level of policy convergence achieved by EU member states in crucial areas and regions of the world. The book is organised in four sections: (1) The EU in the International System; (2) The EU and the Great Powers; (3) The EU and the Management of Conflicts in the Near Abroad; (4) The EU's Regional Policies. This is essential reading for scholars and students of European Union studies and, more generally, of International Relations. It also offers a readable and practical policy update to practitioners and the interested reader.

'The collection of papers...offers a topical and wide-ranging assessment of the EU's ability to speak with one voice on the global stage and be listened to...The chapters were written by mostly younger scholars and benefit from recent empirical reseach. They are generally well-written and balanced, yet do not shy away from criticizing the failures of the EU to exercise influences, especially when caused by national bilateralism.' - Christoph Meyer, Journal of Common Market Studies
 
'Credit is due...to a volume that encourages researchers to value empirical research and opens the way for a stimulating discussion on EFP.' - Sarah Wolff, Mediterranean Politics

Introduction; C.Musu & N.Casarini
PART 1: THE EU IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
"European" Foreign Policy: A Realistic Aspiration, or an Unattainable Goal?; W.Wallace
Europe's Grand Strategy: The Search for a Post-modern Realism; P.Vennesson
EU Coordination in International Organisations; P.Luif & M.Radeva
PART 2: THE EU AND THE GREAT POWERS
European Positions and American Response: ESDP-NATO Compatibility; B.Giegerich
Engaging China - Uniting Europe?; M-B.Stumbaum
EU Relations with Russia: Partnership or Asymmetric Interdependency?; J.Hughes
PART 3: THE EU AND THE MANAGEMENT OF CONFLICTS
European Union Foreign Policy Towards the Balkans; E.Gross
The EU and the Arab-Israeli Peace Process; C.Musu
Congruence without Strategy: Explaining EU Policies towards the Cyprus Conflict; N.Tocci
The EU and the Western Sahara Conflict: Managing the Colonial Heritage; J.Vaquer I Fanes
PART IV: THE EU'S REGIONAL POLICIES
"Conditionality-lite": The European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU's Eastern Neighbours; G.Sasse
The EU and the Baltic Sea Area; N.Catellani
The EU and Euro-Mediterranean Security: A New Departure?; S.Biscop
The Making of the EU's Strategy towards Asia; N.Casarini
Conclusion; S.Economides

NICOLA CASARINI is Jean Monnet Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute (Florence), Italy. He obtained his PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He has published works on EU foreign policy towards China and Asia and on China in transatlantic relations.

COSTANZA MUSU obtained her PhD from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She is Assistant Professor of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa in Canada. Previously she was at the European University Institute in Florence, where she was a Jean Monnet Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre. Her published work focuses on European Foreign Policy and on Transatlantic Relations in the Middle East.