This book provides a detailed analysis of Germany’s role in the development and implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) from the early 1990s through the mid-2000s. Miskimmon examines how Germany’s foreign policy has been shaped by the dual pressures of Europeanization—whereby national policies are influenced and sometimes transformed by EU-level cooperation—and the need to adapt to domestic political, legal, and historical constraints. The book traces Germany’s efforts to reassure neighbors after unification by actively supporting European integration in foreign and security matters, particularly during the Maastricht Treaty negotiations, where Germany promoted stronger intergovernmental cooperation while accommodating the concerns of other member states.

The study highlights Germany’s preference for multilateralism, consensus-building, and the delegation of certain foreign policy competences to the EU, while also noting instances where Germany has diverged from a common European stance to pursue its own interests (such as early recognition of Slovenia and Croatia, or its position on Iraq in 2003). Miskimmon analyzes the evolving institutional framework of the CFSP, Germany’s role in shaping EU defense initiatives, and the ongoing tension between national sovereignty and collective action. The book also discusses the broader implications of Germany’s approach for the effectiveness of the EU as a global actor, emphasizing the significance of compromise, coalition-building, and the balance between European and national priorities