Syllabus
Lesson A: Basic information & introduction
Part I. Theorising and conceptualizing the EU international presence
Lesson B: EU and international relations theories: fitting in?
Lesson C: Integration theories and Foreign Policy Analysis
Part II: Participating actors and institutions
Lesson D: EU institutions and their foreign policy roles
Lesson E: Still a “concert of great powers”? Big Member States and EU foreign policy
Lesson F: Middle-size and small Member States: gaining influence?
Part III: EU foreign and external policies
Lesson G: Legal context
Lesson H: EC external action I: Trade and aid
Lesson I: EC external action II: Association and enlargement
Lesson J: Foreign, Security and Defence Policy: The Union pillar
Part IV: Making it work?
Lesson K: Dealing with the southern neighbours: EU in the Mediterranean
Lesson L: Crisis management: EU in the Balkans
Annotation
The course aims at introducing the European Union as a unique actor in the context of the international system. The concept of EU "actorness"; will be examined from the theoretical perspective of the Integration Theories and the Foreign Policy Analysis, by analysing the contribution of the EU Member States to the European foreign policy, and by presenting the various external acitivities which the Union pursues.
Students are expected to read the relevant documents and selected literature, as the course relies on their active involvement in the lessons. After completing the subject, students should be able to evaluate the relevance of the EU in international relations, the contribution of various actors and institutions that constitute the EU foreign policy, and gain awareness of the problems and challenges that the EU faces in this area.