Is there any such thing as “European Union Foreign Policy”? What are its goals and is it effective at achieving them? What is the perception of EU foreign policy outside of Europe? The University of Rome Tor Vergata, in collaboration with the Centre for American Studies in Rome and the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. is organizing a high level conference, to be held in Rome 7-10 July 2008 to assess EU Foreign Policy, with particular attention to the evolution of Transatlantic Relations.
In order to draw a comprehensive picture of EU foreign policy, the conference will address both “horizontal” and “vertical” issues. Vertical issues focus on particular geographic regions, horizontal issues explore themes that are generally relevant to the external dimension of the EU.
Vertical analyses will include the study of relations with the European Neighborhood, with the United States, with Latin America, with the Mediterranean Area, with the Middle East. with Africa, and with the Far East.
Among horizontal issues the conference will look at: Decision-Making and Procedures; European Identity and Foreign Policy; Human Rights, Peace, and Democracy; Public perception of the EU as an international actor; European Integration and other Integration Models.
In more specific terms, the conference will tackle the following issues:
- How have relations between the EC/EU and the rest of the world developed historically?
- What are the past and current legal instruments the EC/EU has set up to deal with different parts of the world?
- What are the past and existing treaties and agreements between the EC/EU and other parts of the world?
- What are the main objectives that the EU wants to pursue in other areas of the world? How have they changed over the years?
- Is it possible to say that there has been a shift of attention in EU foreign policy from economic issues to political ones?
- Has the EU contributed to the development of human rights, peace, and democracy?
- Has the EU contributed to the economic development of specific areas of the world?
- Does EU foreign policy contribute to creating a European identity? Are foreign populations aware of EU foreign policy? If so, is the EU considered a useful and reliable partner?
- Has the EU contributed to the promotion of regional integration in other areas of the world? How is the European integration process similar to and different from integration models pursued in other regions?
