Keywords
EU foreign policy
security policy
international law
normative influence
global governance
How to Cite
Abstract
The article is devoted to the analysis of the legal foundations of the formation and implementation of the foreign policy of the European Union, emphasizing its complexity, multi-vector nature and dynamism in the context of modern geopolitical challenges, in particular through the prism of rethinking security policy and the concept of strategic autonomy. The relevance is due to the need to adapt the legal and political mechanisms of the EU to new realities that require it to play an active role as a global actor capable of ensuring strategic autonomy and normative influence in the world. The aim of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the legal foundations of the EU foreign policy, identifying key areas of its transformation in the face of modern challenges, as well as assessing the effectiveness of the instruments for implementing strategic autonomy and their impact on international legal regimes. The study is based on the analysis of primary sources, in particular the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, decisions of the EU Council, as well as conceptual documents such as the Global Strategy 2016 and the Strategic Compass 2022. The methods of comparative legal analysis, a systemic approach, as well as a critical analysis of scientific literature and official statements of European institutions were used. The study found that the legal framework of the EU’s foreign policy is characterized by flexibility and adaptability, allowing the Union to respond to geopolitical changes through the mechanisms provided for in the founding treaties and the ERTA principle. The EU’s foreign policy is evolving from an economically oriented to a military-political one, which is confirmed by the lifting of restrictions on the supply of lethal weapons, in particular to Ukraine, and the creation of the European Peace Fund. The concept of strategic autonomy, articulated in 2013, has transformed into an open strategic autonomy, covering economic, climate and digital aspects, implemented through the neighborhood policy and bilateral agreements. At the same time, the practice of "legal export" through association agreements often leads to asymmetric relations, increasing the dependence of partners on EU norms, which raises criticism of the marginalization of national legal regimes. Further research could focus on assessing the long-term effectiveness of strategic autonomy instruments, particularly in the context of defense economics and peacekeeping missions.
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