EU External Relations Law

The law of the external relations of the European Union is a subject of great importance. The EU institutions have developed an extensive practice in this area, by concluding many international agreements, by participating in the work of international organizations, and by legislating and regulating on matters of external relations. It is a practice giving rise to many legal problems and questions, as evidenced by the substantial and fast expanding body of case-law in this area from the EU Courts. These problems and questions are often of constitutional significance, and the external relations law of the EU therefore occupies an important place in the overall constitutional and institutional development of the EU.

This volume examines the legal foundations of the EU's external relations. It focuses on the EU's external competencies and objectives; on the instruments, principles, and actors of external policies; and on the legal effects of international agreements and international law. It analyses a number of key external policies, particularly in the fields of trade and foreign policy.

Substantially updated to take into account recent case law, it also incorporates an examination of the changes made by the Lisbon Treaty. This new edition, formerly published as External Relations of the European Union: Legal and Constitutional Foundations, is an invaluable asset to those studying and working in the field.

Piet Eeckhout is Professor of Law and King's College London. He is Director of the Centre of European Law at King's, and co-editor of the Yearbook of European Law. He also teaches at the College of Europe, Bruges and is an associate academic member of Matrix Chambers, London.

1: Introduction
Constitutional Foundations: Powers and Objectives
2: Competence in matters of commercial policy
3: The doctrine of implied powers
4: Express and implied competences under the TFEU
5: Competence to conduct a Common Foreign and Security Policy
International Foundations: Treaties and International Law
6: The life cycle of international agreements
7: Mixed external action and membership of international organizations
8: The courts and international agreements
9: The legal effects of international law
Policies
10: Common commercial policy
11: Common Foreign and Security Policy
12: Sanctions policy
13: Conclusion
1. Introduction
Constitutional Foundations: Powers and Objectives
2. Competence in matters of commercial policy
3. The doctrine of implied powers
4. Express and implied competences under the TFEU
5. Competence to conduct a Common Foreign and Security Policy
International Foundations: Treaties and International Law
6. The life cycle of international agreements
7. Mixed external action and membership of international organizations
8. The courts and international agreements
9. The legal effects of international law
Policies
10. Common commercial policy
11. Common Foreign and Security Policy
12. Sanctions policy
13. Conclusion