CEPS (Centre for European Policy Studies) hosted an in-person event on EU foreign and security policy in an increasingly conflictual world. The lecture took place on 4 July 2024 at the CEPS premises in Brussels.

In an era marked by multipolar rivalry, regional fragmentation and intra-EU contestation, the European Union faces growing challenges in delivering effective external action. The session focused on understanding how these internal and external constraints shape EU foreign and security policy.

Riccardo Alcaro, Head of the Global Actors Programme at Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), presented insights from his recently published book (co-authored with Pol Bargués), which examines how the EU responds to major crises. The book sheds light on the Union’s role as a “relational power” – one that amplifies its members’ influence without wielding autonomous strategic power.

The discussion also addressed possible turning points for the EU’s foreign policy, including scenarios for reform or even disintegration in view of a second Trump administration. Alcaro offered a critical assessment of how the EU can navigate systemic crises while maintaining unity and credibility on the global stage.

The event was moderated by Steven Blockmans, Senior Research Fellow at CEPS.

This high-level lecture was part of the REUNIR – Future-proofing EU security, enlargement and eastern neighbourhood policies for a new age of international relations project. Funded under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme (project ID No. 101132446), such lectures bring leading experts to explore how the EU can adapt its policies to a rapidly changing global environment.