The international position of the EU is usually seen as problematic: Even through the EU considered economically strong, politically it has not been able to take its place among the major powers of the world. State-centric approaches to the study of international relations present two main reason for this: the weak structure of decision-making, and the lacking possibility to use military power.

This thesis approaches the international position/role of the EU from the constructivist approach by analysing the international system and the way determines the properties of actors. Global processes have changed the international system and decreased the meaning of many traditional properties of a state.

In this reading, the EU´s system of decision-making and governance based on multilateralism and negotiations does not need to be seen as a source of problems, since it may also be a source of strength. In the best case, the EU is able to utilize the changes globalization causes in state sovereignty and functions, and construct a more efficient system of governance. The position of the EU as a non-state actor enables it to take on multiple forms as an actor, through which it may be better capable of confronting the new security challenges than the traditional state. At a time when the meaning of military power is decreasing in international relations, the EU, as a civilian power, may be more able to cope with security risks and change its environment more favourable to itself.

As a conclusion the EU is claimed to be more than a state rather than less. Yet, the EU has problems in building its identity and acquiring legitimacy for connecting the European citizens with the European governance.