The European Union as a Diplomatic Actor in Turbulent Times

This article contributes to an analysis attempting to identify the capacity and resources of the European Union as an actor in international relations hitherto defined as a “soft” power, a normative actor relying mainly on diplomacy in conflict resolution, trade disputes, and climate negotiations. This article aims to outline how the European Union, in such a defined role, is adapting to a dynamically transforming international order, one of the turning points of which was Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine in 2022. In addition, the institutional strengthening of EU diplomacy through explicit provisions for external representation following the 2009 reform introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon will be analysed. In recent times, the anticipated transformation of the European Union into an entity using more “hard” power to defend the international order and stabilise security in Europe has gradually begun to materialise. This has been manifested in the financial and military aid provided to Ukraine, the sanctions package imposed on Russia, and the developed concept of EU strategic autonomy. However, it is assumed that, despite this, the EU’s traditionally ascribed role of an actor relying on soft power, the power of its diplomacy, is still necessary and relatively valid even in the face of military threats. The analysis begins with an overview of selected theoretical approaches to the perception of the EU in international relations. It is followed by a review of the strengthening of diplomatic structures and, finally, the emergence of new formats of EU diplomacy in response to emerging global challenges. Ultimately, this study will provide insights into the European Union’s adaptation to a turbulent international order in three dimensions: the re-definition of its international identity; the evolution of the diplomatic institutional culture established after the Treaty of Lisbon; and the transformation of the forms of response to emerging challenges nearby.