The European Union’s Foreign Policy System: the Problem of Coherence and Effectiveness of the Post-Lisbon Solutions
The European Union’s Foreign Policy System: the Problem of Coherence and Effectiveness of the Post-Lisbon Solutions

Summary/Abstract: This paper is dedicated to the phenomenon of European foreign policy system – analysed in the processual context. Broadly defined processes of European integration affect the status of the main actors in the system. The point of reference in this study is provided by the European Union (EU) which is considered to be a source of systemic changes. However, the Member States are equally important, as well as their feedback in respect to the EU activity in the international environment of the European system. For the purpose of this study, the author has raised the question about the consequences the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty (LT) with regard to the position of sovereign states in the international system. Furthermore, it is important to look at the problem of coherence and effectiveness of the post-Lisbon solutions. The theoretical framework is provided by the synthesis of the Europeanisation concept with the realist paradigm of international relations. Such synthesis allows the author to analyse the nature and character of contemporary European states, still considered as the main actors of the European system. Therefore, it is worth to search for an answer as to why the EU member states are willing to limit the scope of their sovereignty and to what extent they are ready to share their competences in the field of foreign policy with EU supranational institutions.

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