Avoiding Pitfalls and Solving Dilemmas: The EU Chartering Its Course in a Geopolitical World

In the final chapter of the book, the authors draw together the different strands of measures taken by the European Union (EU) in response to the evolving geopolitical world order and reflect on whether the EU has the capacity to stay on the trajectory it has set for itself. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the shift in the United States foreign and trade policies, and the deteriorated relations with China have made the shift in the international world order painstakingly clear for the EU. As a Union, the EU was never meant to sustain power politics, but in light of these developments it has adjusted and adopted policies that would have been unthinkable not long ago. With little prospect of better times ahead, it will be key for the EU to adopt a course that helps it mitigate the negative impacts of great power politics and shifting alliances.