The EU’s Effectiveness in International Negotiations

Abstract

This chapter will discuss how we could perceive of the European Union’s (EU) effectiveness in international negotiations by reviewing other literature on the influence of actors in international negotiations. It gives an overview of earlier research on the relationship between EU unity and effectiveness, even though this research is often not specifically framed in this way. Authors generally seem to consider it beneficial if the EU displays more EU unity or actorness in international negotiations, but evidence is inconclusive on whether this leads to more effectiveness for the EU in these negotiations. This chapter considers how we can most accurately analyse the EU’s effectiveness in specific cases and discusses (possible) limitations of doing so.