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Foreign relations of the European Union

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As a partly integrated supernational community, the European Union and its member states are still largely running their own foreign affairs. However there are several areas where member states coordinate their actions according to a common policy.

Both the established EU institutions in Brussels and Luxembourg, as well as each of the 25 member states, take influence in the formation of a foreign policy of the European Union.

Apart from the President of the European Commission himself, there is a European Commissioner for Foreign Affairs appointed for external relations (currently Benita Ferrero-Waldner). She coordinates the EU member states positions, as necessary and where possible.

The member states are more influential, in particular France and Germany - being the self-proclaimed "core of Europe" - often at times attempt to direct a common EU foreign policy, at times with the neglect of the interests of some of the smaller member states. The United Kingdom with its established national relations to many regions in the world is often at times in disagreement with other EU member states, notably France.

See also

Foreign relations of member states

 


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