EU Regulatory Agencies in EU External Relations: Trapped in a Legal Minefield Between European and International Law

Abstract: This article is devoted to new institutional actors in EU external relations. The number of EU regulatory agencies has increased over the years. By fulfilling important administrative tasks in the European Union, these agencies actively participate in international relations with third–country agencies or international organizations in such fields as aviation, food safety or border control. However, their actions have not only to be analysed against the backdrop of the internal implications for the Union’s institutional balance and the principles of democracy and transparency but also for their consequences on EU external relations law. This contribution aims to categorize these actions of EU regulatory agencies and highlight that their international relations move in a legal minefield between European and international law.