Few phrases in European politics over the past few years have been used as freely, or defined as loosely, as ‘strategic actor’. It is invoked after every shock Europe faces with little appraisal of the specific policy tools at the EU’s disposal. In response, we at Euro Prospects’ European Strategic Policy Unit (ESP) set out to paint a sober but concrete picture of the EU’s strategic capacity.

Across ten policy briefs, our team depicts an EU in fundamental redefinition. Whether the Union is moving beyond its traditional role as merely a normative and regulatory power is no longer in doubt. Competences deemed too controversial for Member States to hand over to Brussels a decade ago, particularly in defence, development finance, sanctions, energy, and economic security, are now being exercised in full within EU institutions and agencies.

Our analyses range from crypto regulation and Africa’s finance race to transatlantic energy, cyber security, neighbourhood policy, frozen Russian assets, Arctic connectivity, and science diplomacy. What is concluded is that the EU’s external influence is very much tangible, yet classically complex and gradual. Each brief therefore closes with concrete recommendations aimed at EU policy-makers.

The EU as a Global Strategic Actor is our ESP Unit’s second series, and Euro Prospects’ largest collective effort yet, combining a team of 26 analysts and editors from law, security studies, international relations, and economics. I thank each and every one for their rigour and their passion throughout an exacting editorial process.