In the early 2000s, the European Union (EU) set out to transform itself into a leading player in world politics. Drawing strength from the Union's sui generis nature as a unique economic and political project, its leaders sought to make the EU a de facto global actor. However, in the past few years, the changing international order, the decrease in European competitiveness and economic output, as well as a number of internal institutional compromises have begun to challenge the EU's ability to perform its role as a global player, indeed even its role of regional stabilizer. The ongoin military conflict in Ukraine, the US's continuing pivot to Asia, and the repercussions of the global financial crisis in the Eurozone all hamper the Union's ability to act, but also undermine its magnetism> partner countries now without a clear path to accession appear to be much more opportunistic when it comes to their European relations, than the enthusiastic post-communist countries who became members in 2004.

The present book offers a survey of both the challenges that the EU as a global actor has been facing since the 2008 financial crisis, and the policy responses it gives (or should give) to these problems. It assesses key areas of European policy such as internal institutional reform, foreign policy, security policy, trade, energy security and migration.

The contributors believe that this selection offers a non-exhaustive list of policy areas that the EU can use to shape both itself and its environment in a way that is favorable for a stable and prosperous "wider Europe."