European Union Delegations in EU Foreign Policy - (European Union in International Affairs) by F Austermann (Hardcover)

About the Book

"European Union Delegations are an integral part of the EU External Action Service (EEAS) and have constituted the official diplomatic representation of the European Union to countries outside of the EU since the signature of the Lisbon Treaty in 2007. However, despite these steps towards further political integration, the Treaty of Lisbon has been unable to streamline differences across third states and the EEAS hence remains a diplomatic service of different speeds.This study considers why the EU centralizes diplomacy more easily in some third countries rather than in others, and offers a systematic answer to this question by analysing the EU Delegations both across time and space, notably by developing a quantitative tool, the EU Diplomacy Centralization Index. The results show that whilst the EU is adept at centralizing diplomacy in developing countries and - quite surprisingly - in countries of strategic/security importance, it encounters difficulties in doing this with major economic partners. "--

Book Synopsis

This first comprehensive study of the EU's diplomatic representation in the world, the EEAS, this book seeks to understand why it has failed to formulate a centralised policy towards external states. It also analyses why the EEAS has more success in centralising diplomatic structures in developing countries than with some economic partners.

Review Quotes

"EU Delegations in EU Foreign Policy' is the first in-depth study of the newly established EU embassies in the post-Lisbon period. By systematically investigating the level of diplomatic centralization around the world, it gives novel insights into how these new players give shape to their role and how differences in the level of integration can be explained. This perceptive analysis is indispensable reading for anyone interested in the emerging diplomatic system of the European Union". - Sophie Vanhoonacker, Chair in Administrative Governance, Maastricht University, the Netherlands

"The book by Austermann provides a novel and illuminating analysis of the opportunities and challenges faced by the EU Delegations in dealing with EU foreign and diplomacy policy matters. It explores in a lucid fashion the complexities embedded in the inter-relationship between the Member States' embassies, the newly formed European External Action Service and the strengthened EU Delegations. By assessing the strength of EU Delegations globally in the form of an index, the book offers valuable explanations on why a centralised European diplomacy is emerging at different speeds in different so-called third countries. This empirically grounded and theoretically informed book will make an important contribution to the study and debate of EU foreign and diplomacy policy and deserves a wide readership among students, scholars and practitioners alike". - Emil J. Kirchner, Department of Government University of Essex, UK

"Out of the numerous studies on the European foreign policy inspired by the Lisbon reform, this book from Dr. Frauke Austermann offers an unique and timely contribution. With its focus on the enhanced roles of the Union delegations around the world, carefully designed assumptions and testing method, Dr, Austermann is able to give the first assessment of the centralizing trend of EU's diplomacy beyond Brussels, as well as the enabling and constraining factors in the unfolding process". - Chen Zimin, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University, China

About the Author

Frauke Austermann (PhD Freie Universität Berlin) is an Assistant Professor of International Affairs at the Shanghai Campus of ESSCA School of Management, LUNAM University, France.