A More Coherent and Effective European Foreign Policy? A Federal Trust Working Group Report, February 2009

The aim of this report is to examine the challenges and the potentially new opportunities bearing on the development of European foreign and security policy against the background of the debate surrounding the Lisbon Treaty.

In the context of globalisation, financial turmoil and
new security threats, collective action at the European Union (EU) level constitutes by far the best way for the European states to make an effective impact on the shaping of global politics.

At the same time, the Obama Presidency offers new opportunities for a renewed partnership between the EU and the US to tackle global issues. Against this background, the
question must be put as to how far the EU is endowed with the necessary capabilities to deal with the challenges and opportunities ahead.