This thoroughly revised and expanded third edition examines how and why the EU seeks to achieve five core foreign policy objectives: the encouragement of regional cooperation, the advancement of human rights, the promotion of democracy and good governance, the prevention of violent conflicts, and the fight against international crime, including terrorism. Smith demonstrates that these objectives often clash with each other and with other policy priorities, forcing the EU to grapple with acute policy dilemmas. The book explores the institutional evolution of the EU as an international actor, the development of its foreign policy instruments, and the impact of major events such as the Lisbon Treaty and the eurozone crisis on its external actions.

Chapters cover the EU’s efforts to promote regional cooperation, human rights, democracy, conflict prevention, and the fight against international crime, offering both theoretical insights and empirical case studies. Smith also analyzes the ongoing struggle for coherence in EU foreign policy, noting that while the Lisbon Treaty addressed some institutional challenges, achieving unity among member states remains difficult—especially in a multipolar world and amid internal crises that have weakened the EU’s international standing.

This accessible and well-researched book is designed for undergraduate and postgraduate students of European politics, foreign policy analysis, and international relations, but it also provides valuable insights for practitioners and analysts seeking to understand the EU’s external relations and global ambitions