Cohérence et action extérieure de l’Union européenne

This paper examines the possible contribution of the Treaty of Lisbon to improve the coherence of EU external relations. In particular, it discusses the transformation of the consistency requirement into a structural principle of the EU legal order, and critically assesses related innovations brought about by the new Treaty: e.g. the streamlining of EU external objectives, the rationalisation of the Union’s institutional framework, and the generalisation of the principle of sincere cooperation.