Author Description

An EU Innovative External Action? discusses both the EUâ (TM)s growing challenges from its near and far neighbourhood and the developments within the EU that seek to meet them. The European Security Strategy (2003) and its updating (2008) have pointed out some of the growing external problems. These documents have outlined the goals for the EUâ (TM)s future activity in terms of general principles and policy rather than of specific actions, adopting a holistic approach covering a wide range of civilian responses as well as the military dimension of security. This book is an empirical investigation which reflects these different aspects and pressures, exploring the interaction between resources and capacities, policies and processes, and influences from within and outside the EU. Its main argument is the need for the EU to work towards meeting its external challenges by developing innovative action. The crucial challenges that this volume explores include the EUâ (TM)s approach to the European External Action Service; the EUâ (TM)s handling of Russia, China, and Iran; the legal aspects of the Common Security and Defence Policyâ (TM)s (CSDP) military operations; legal issues regarding the EUâ (TM)s combating of piracy and armed robbery in the CSDP Operation Atalanta; the influences and issues inherent in the EUâ (TM)s coordination of the above military marine operation; the political control and strategic direction on decision-making by the Political Security Committee; the establishment of the EUâ (TM)s rapid reaction force within the CSDP framework and its present (in)action; and the CSDPâ (TM)s experimentation in the promotion of peace and security on the African continent. This volume examines EU behaviour in the above policy areas and issues, and how the Union is dealing with the risks it faces today. This book aims to promote an interdisciplinary debate. The contributions to this volume originated from a workshop concerned with the European Union Facing Ext