EIRP Proceedings, Vol 4 (2009)

Abstract

The EU is facing crucial external challenges for its present and future stability, security and prosperity. The instability in the Middle East, terrorism, the global warming and environmental change issue, the world's growing economic globalization and its outsiders, or the political and economical competition with the Chinese and Indian giants leading to increasingly rival partnerships must be properly understood and assessed in the full extend of their implications and consequences, and
addressed by appropriate policies. But the future of EU's role as an international actor is also being decisively shaped today by the challenges the EU faces from its Eastern neighborhood which are likely to have fundamental long term economical and political consequences on the EU. These challenges directly influence EU's stability, security and prosperity and ability to be an international actor capable of identifying its interests, and successfully pursuing or protecting them.