Chapter 11 - Rules first: The way forward for ‘shaping power’ Europe

With regards to Europe’s role in the world, Giovanni Grevi argues that over the next five years, the EU should adopt a ‘rules first’ strategic approach to frame and guide Europe’s projection on the international stage. This approach should harness the EU’s considerable rule-making power to both promote its interests and values and support multilateralism and partnerships on the global stage. The EU has long aimed to advance international cooperation. This time, however, it is different. Recent developments point to a much more challenging strategic context for ‘shaping power’ Europe and call for a new level of commitment, he states.