ABSTRACT

The revival of the discussion, ongoing since the early seventies, concerning the external relations of the European Community and its international identity, is a crucial part of the broader debate on new regionalism. Many questions still remain open regarding both its institutional capabilities and its ability to cope with the uncertainties of the globalized world after the Cold War. 1 Before drawing a final conclusion regarding the future of European regionalism and of new regionalism in general, let us focus on the empirical and theoretical dimensions of the evolving role of the EU as an international entity.