This valuable work makes sense of Europe's complex foreign relations. It puts together the play of national interests in EU negotiations, common European ambitions, and Europe's role in international geopolitics. Accessible yet nuanced, the book will appeal to students and scholars of European politics and beyond.

Markus Thiel, Florida International University

An enlightening book written in an engaging style by an impressive line-up of top experts on the main issues in European foreign policy. This is a must-read for all those who want to understand not only how the European Union works-or not-in the world today but also why it does so.

Vivien A. Schmidt, Jean Monnet Professor of European Integration and Professor of Political Science and International Relations, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University

This essential book brings together some of the very top experts on European foreign policy. By integrating both European Union and national perspectives on traditional and emerging foreign policy challenges-including security, the financial crisis, energy, and other vital 21st-century issues-this book serves not only to enhance the study of Europe but also to provide a must read for all students of international relations.

Sean Kay, Robson Professor of Politics and Government, Ohio Wesleyan University

A wonderful overview of the beginnings of the European integration project and the twentieth-century geo-strategy that made 'an ever closer union' emerge as a political goal. The book brilliantly sketches out the new challenges Europe is facing in the new century after the 1989 tectonic shifts in the international system and their impact on the West's security architecture.

Ulrike Guérot, The European Council on Foreign Relations