The European External Action Service reviewed. (c2013)

Abstract

The Arab uprisings of 2011 and the consequent ousting of long-standing autocratic regimes in North Africa have forced the European Union to radically alter its relationship with its neighboring region. In effect, this process became the top priority for the European External Action Service (EEAS), Europe’s newly created foreign policy agency. Now, more than two years later, this thesis asks: To what extent has the EEAS, as created by the Treaty of Lisbon, achieved its goal of becoming an effective global actor when we review its response to the Arab uprisings? Taking Egypt and Libya as case studies, this thesis identifies that the EEAS has failed to live up to expectations since it has not succeeded in achieving its goals both within the European political arena and abroad. This is the result of both institutional weakness and individual shortcomings. Nevertheless, this new institution can be seen as yet another step in the incremental development of common European capabilities in the field of foreign policy. However, concerning the European response to the Arab uprisings the EEAS has not been able to turn the EU into the global actor it aspires to be.