Synopsis This book examines the role of the European union as an influential actor in world politics. The seventeen essays in this volume evaluate EU enlargement and the Common Foreign and Security Policy. They assess the European Union’s trade policy and role in multilaterial trade negotiations, international crises and conflict resolution. The study discusses the impact of the Iraq war (2003) on transatlantic relations. This study critically evaluates the role of France, Germany and Britain in the process of European integration and assesses the challenges of institutional reform. This volume will be of interest to policy-makers as well as those engaged in the fields of economics, international relations and area studies.