Law and Practice of EU External Relations: Salient Features of a Changing Landscape

Expanding European Union activity on the international scene has led to development of the legal concepts, principles and rules that govern it. External relations law and practice have also been affected by events within the EU. This volume takes stock of the recent developments in the external relations law and practice of the EC/EU and investigates the increasing interaction between these different fields of Union competence. The first part of this book addresses issues that are broadly constitutional or institutional in character. The second part deals with various aspects of substantive external relations considered in a geographical or geopolitical perspective. The third part selects two specific substantive law areas - intellectual property law and environment law - as examples that illustrate the specific relationship between domestic policy and external relations.

Table of Contents:
Part I. Constitutional and Institutional Questions: 1. Direct effect and interpretation of international agreements in the recent case law of the European Court of Justice Francis Jacobs; 2. Defining competence in EU external relations: lessons from the Constitutional Treaty Marise Cremona; 3. Article 47 TEU and the relationship between first and second pillar competences Alan Dashwood; 4. EC Law and UN Security Council resolutions - in search of the right fit Piet Eeckhout; 5. Fundamental rights and the interface between second and third pillar Eleanor Spaventa; 6. The EU as a party to international agreements: shared competences? Mixed responsibilities? Ramses Wessel; 7. Will the common commercial policy be impeded by non-ratification of the Constitutional Treaty? Peter-Christian Müller-Graff; 8. The extent to which the EC legislature takes account of WTO obligations: jousting lessons from the European Parliament Jacques Bourgeois and Orla Lynskey; Part II. Bilateral and Regional Approaches: 9. The relations between the EU and Switzerland Christine Kaddous; 10. The relations between the EU and Andorra, San Marino and Monaco Marc Maresceau; 11. The EU's Neighbourhood Policy towards Eastern Europe Christophe Hillion; 12. The four common spaces: new impetus to the EU-Russia strategic partnership? Peter Van Elsuwege; 13. The EU's Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East: a new geopolitical dimension of the EU's proximity strategies Erwan Lannon; 14. The EU's transatlantic relationship Günter Burghardt; Part III. Selected Substantive Areas: 15. With eyes wide shut: the EC strategy to enforce intellectual property rights abroad Inge Govaere; 16. EU environmental law and its green footprints in the world Kirstyn Inglis.

Review :
Review of the hardback: '… a most interesting stock-taking and up-dating on a subject in very fast movement.' Global Law Books Review of the hardback: 'To any reader interested in watching the European Union consolidate its position within world legal orders, assert its emerging identity, and implement policies for its own protection and which are beneficial to neighbours and other non-Member States, this series of essays is fascinating, stimulating and immensely informative. … As a whole the book is rigorously critical but unusually realistic. It achieves with distinction its objective of presenting a panoramic view of the European Union achieving more of its external objectives and with greater political and legal sensitivity than it is usually given credit for - though still excessively preoccupied with gazing at the emerging contours of its own identity.' Common Market Law Review Review of the hardback: '… a most interesting stock-taking and up-dating on a subject which is evolving very rapidly … catering to the interests and needs of highly specialized practitioners and academics … any further research on the subject of EU External Relations will profit from this book.' European Journal of International Law Review of the hardback: '… this is an outstanding collection. It benefits from consistently high-quality contributions by established experts in the field of EU external relations … A copy of the book must find its way onto the bookcase of everyone with an interest in the law and practice of EU external relations.' European Law Review Review of the hardback: '… a high-profile contribution to this debate. It provides an authoritative and rigorous legal analysis of the most recent developments in the EC/EU's external relations law and practice …' The International Spectator 'This collection features an impressive line-up of top-class scholars and practitioners whose combined expertise is indeed capable of spanning the entirety of the vast and complex domain of EU external relations law and whose combined vision can discern the 'salient features' thereof.' Joris Larik, Yearbook of European Law