Main Features:

• Historical and Institutional Context:
  The book begins with a historical overview of EU foreign policy and analyzes the impact of the Lisbon Treaty, which established the legal and structural foundations for a more coherent and visible EU presence in global affairs. It discusses the evolution of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the challenges of achieving unity among member states.

• Policy Tools and Issues:
  Chapters detail the EU’s foreign policy instruments, including security and defense policy, migration, counterterrorism, and democracy promotion. The book explores how the EU uses these tools to address issues such as regional cooperation, human rights, conflict prevention, and international crime.

• Relations with Neighbors and Global Powers:
  The volume examines the EU’s complex relationships with its neighbors (Russia, Ukraine, Western Balkans, Turkey), as well as its interactions with major global actors like the United States, China, India, Africa, and ASEAN. It assesses how the EU manages enlargement, neighborhood policy, and strategic partnerships, highlighting both achievements and ongoing struggles.

• Contemporary Challenges:
  The book addresses the impact of recent crises—such as the eurozone crisis, Brexit, the rise of nationalist parties, and changing transatlantic relations—on the EU’s foreign policy effectiveness and international image. It also considers the EU’s responses to migration, terrorism, and global economic shifts.

• Analytical Approach:
  Contributions from leading scholars provide both theoretical and practice-oriented perspectives, making the book suitable for students and practitioners. It emphasizes the persistent dilemmas of coherence, effectiveness, and identity in EU foreign policy, especially in a multipolar and rapidly changing world