ABSTRACT

British membership of the European Union comprises participation in the Union’s actions on the international stage. This chapter looks at the effects of Brexit on the EU as an international actor. As the UK is a major member state that has taken part in the creation of central decision-making structures and the establishment of acquis politiques in this field for more than forty years, we would expect Brexit to be important for the EU as an international actor. But the question is how important and in what ways? Most literature on the subject mentions the dualism that, on the one hand, Brexit will lead to a reduction in the means available for the EU on the international stage. On the other hand, the departure of the UK (which is sceptical towards aspects of European foreign policy) will also facilitate more advanced and ambitious EU foreign policy decisions. The chapter examines the general thrust of the literature on the subject.