The European Union at the United Nations - Is Europe Fulfilling its Common Foreign Policy Dreams?

Abstract

A coordinated behaviour of EU member states in international organisations is an important precondition to the development of a homogenous external EU “personality”. Against this background, this article analyses to what extent the member states harmonise their foreign policy interests at the United Nations. EU unity is examined by use of empirical data on voting behaviour and common statements, arguing that Europe is still far away from speaking with a single voice, due to the strictly intergovernmental manner without considerable competence for EU institutions in which the common foreign and security policy is organised.