ABSTRACT
The foreign policy of the European Union (EU) is complex and multidimensional in nature. It takes a distinct form, composed of three key features: member states’ national foreign policies; the European Commission’s external policies; and the development of the EU’s profile as an international actor in the form of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This chapter emphasises the role of the EEAS in the relations between Africa and the EU by reflecting on its establishment, newly assumed responsibilities and engagement with African partners. It introduces the EEAS and outlines its objectives, responsibilities and institutional structures and then turns to the Service’s interactions with the African partners, highlighting its contributions to EU-Africa relations and giving an outline of the challenges and limitations of the EEAS. The chapter concludes with an outlook for the EU’s external relations and the role of the EEAS in interactions with Africa.
