European External Action Service: Beyond Westphalian Diplomacy

Currently, various non-state entities, including regional integration arrangements, are increasingly gaining in importance alongside nation-states in the international arena. One such non-state entity is the European Union, which has proven on many occasions that it can make decisions that are crucial not only for the European Union itself but also for its Member States, be they in connection with financial and economic crises, migration, COVID-19, or, as has been more recently the case, the war in Ukraine. And while recent events have highlighted the enduring importance of states in the international arena, this does not undermine the significance of non-state actors, including the European Union. Much like states, the European Union conducts its own foreign policy, including in the form of diplomatic involvement. Hence, there is a need not only to establish and maintain relationships and ensure diplomatic representation with other political communities, both state and non-state, but also to develop appropriate structures. In the case of the European Union, such an organisational framework is provided for by the European External Action Service (EEAS). This article highlights the increasing role of non-state actors in the international arena, using the European External Action Service as a reference point. It argues that, while diplomacy has traditionally been the domain of states, non-state actors are now becoming actively involved in diplomatic practices, thereby redefining modern diplomacy. The study employs dogmatic, legal-institutional, and comparative methods.