Coherence in EU external relations and the law : the case of the CFSP-development cooperation nexus in the Union's action in Somalia

Abstract

Coherence in EU external relations is a long-standing concern. While seemingly surpassed in the last years by the idea of the 'comprehensive approach', the latter is nothing but the latest attempt to advance coherence in this field. The issue of the role of law in the quest for coherence is characterised by the existence of important gaps in the literature, at both theoretical and practical levels. This thesis aims at complementing legal literature on coherence with a study that specifically focuses on how coherence is sought between specific policies and activities coexisting in external action. It also intends to complement the empirical political science literature on coherence by focusing on the legal aspect of the query. The thesis elaborates on the notion of coherence in EU foreign policy, addressing questions like: What does coherence in external action mean? Why is it an obsession? What purposes does it serve? It also proposes a categorisation of the legal provisions and principles that are relevant to the struggle for coherence based on four mechanisms set out in EU primary law. It then focuses on the CFSP-development nexus in Union action in Somalia between 2008 and 2014 as a striking case to analyse these mechanisms in the development and implementation of policy action. The thesis reflects on the interaction between law and policy in the external dimension of the EU project, and provides arguments to think about how the law of external relations could more effectively promote coherence in this field.