Since the French and Dutch voters rejected the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, in May and June 2005 respectively, politicians and lawyers have been confronted with the question of how to move forward. This book strives to formulate answers on the question of what to do if not all the Member States ratify the Treaty. It brings together contributions from over 50 experts from the 25 Member States, from candidate, potential candidate and neighbouring countries, as well as from Russia and the US. Key topics covered are: the process and impact of EU constitution-making; the...

Analyses the impact of enlargement and the 'constitutional' revision on the EU's external relations and internal organisation.

Blockmans examines how the international community's efforts to stabilise the Western Balkans can be restructured.

The recent rounds of enlargement have stretched the operational capacity of the European Union to the maximum, triggering a debate on the final shape and borders of the EU and prompting the Member States to review the framework of primary law on the basis of the failed Constitutional Treaty. Reconciling the desire to deepen European integration in several policy fields with the promises made to widen the Union with the current candidate countries (Croatia, Macedonia and Turkey) once they meet all criteria for membership is a big challenge, especially in view of the EU's ambitions to match the...

In the wake of the Balkan wars, the EU has worked hard to close the so-called 'capabilities-expectations gap' in the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). With the institution of new political and military structures and procedures, the agreement on principles for consultation and cooperation with other international organizations, the adoption of an acquis securitaire, and the launching of twenty ESDP operations, the EU has affirmed its operational capacity in ESDP. The proliferation of the EU's institutional and operational mechanisms to manage crises on its doorstep and farther...

peace. Only through partnership with local actors can international norms be c- bined with a respect and understanding of local context, and promote the transfer of responsibilities and ownership to the populations concerned. In this work we need to engage with local civil society as well as representatives of media and local business communities. The link between peace, security and development has been widely recognised by the international community, and as a response, the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) was created in 2005. The European Union is committed to actively...

The European Union is traditionally seen as a new and partly separate legal order within the global legal system. At the same time, the EU is an important player in the global governance network. The strong and explicit link between the EU and a large number of other international organisations raises questions concerning the impact of decisions taken by those organisations and of international agreements concluded with those organisations (either by the EU itself or by its Member States) on the autonomy of the EU legal order. This book addresses the relationship between the EU and other...

For years the European Union has been looked on as a potential model for cosmopolitan governance, and enjoyed considerable influence on the global stage. The EU has a uniquely strong and legally binding mission statement to pursue international relations on a multilateral basis, founded on the progressive development of international law. The political vision was for the EU to export its values of the rule of law and sophisticated governance mechanisms to the international sphere.
Globalization and the financial crisis have starkly illustrated the limits of this vision, and the EU's...

The European Union is traditionally seen as a new and partly separate legal order within the global legal system. At the same time, the EU is an important player in the global governance network. The strong and explicit link between the EU and a large number of other international organisations raises questions concerning the impact of decisions taken by those organisations and of international agreements concluded with those organisations (either by the EU itself or by its Member States) on the autonomy of the EU legal order. This book addresses the relationship between the EU and other...