ABSTRACT
As the conduct of international relations changes in tone, bilateral diplomacy is back in vogue. This trend does not leave the European continent unaffected. Many EU member states make good use of their diplomatic network across the continent to better understand what other member states aspire to achieve, and to promote their own voice within the European system. This chapter sheds conceptual clarity on the resurgence of bilateral diplomacy in Europe. First, it argues that, in the absence of multilateral successes, bilateralism constitutes the fallback position for structuring the international system. Second, it explains the ways in which embedded bilateral networks add depth to intra-European relationships. Third, it addresses the question as to whether this revival of bilateralism undermines the EU supranational institutions. Although bilateral and multilateral approaches have historically alternated in prominence, they can also complement and reinforce one another. For Germany and Poland alike, there is much to explore.
