The Development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Post Lisbon

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the development of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The dissertation sought to answer if the changes which the Lisbon Treaty introduced were being implemented and if yes, analyze their effectiveness in the European Union's Foreign Policy. Studies on the Common Foreign and Security Policy have increased in recent years with the European Union being given more importance as a unique union. The dissertation starts with analyzing the development of the Common Foreign and Security Policy prior to the Lisbon Treaty and later focuses on the changes that are being implemented which are introduced to the Common Foreign and Security Policy by the Lisbon Treaty taking into account how the Lisbon Treaty was meant to increase cooperation and consistency within the European Union. I will critically assess their effectiveness by presenting case studies in order to demonstrate the effects of these changes. The dissertation mainly concludes that there is a need for an increase in coherency and efficiency between the European Union and Member States to allow for these changes to develop successfully as the Common Foreign and Security Policy within the Treaty continues to be intergovernmental.