The European Union's International Political Capacity into the 21st Century. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 8 No. 14, July 2008

[From the Introduction]. During more than 50 years the European Union (EU) has made great progress in many areas, developing from a small community of coal and steel to a robust economic and political union. Part of this growth has come in the form of the EU’s external relations despite the fact that the EU has relatively minimal military capabilities. Rather than using military force to achieve its international goals, the EU has relied on trade pacts; economic, political and humanitarian agreements; and institutionalized diplomatic relations. Although the threat of force is not an option for the EU, it has attained significant international influence and compliance with its international agreements. This is a testament to the international political capacity of the European Union

European Union-Latin American Relations after Lima and Lisbon. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series Vol. 5 No. 6, March 2008

[From the Introduction] The fifth European Union-Latin American/Caribbean Summit that took place in Lima, Peru, in May 2008 presented a series of challenges and opportunities for the future relations between these two regions. The fact that current relations are in a period of minor difficulties is not news, nor is the idea that both regions have a vested interest in revitalizing interregional relations, a process to which all relevant actors are at least theoretically committed. The European Commission has addressed this situation by commissioning a “Study on Relations between the European Union and Latin America: New Strategies and Perspectives”, and by proposing in December 2005 a renewed strategy for “A Stronger Partnership between the European Union and Latin America”