Introduction
The European Union (EU) was established with the understanding that transcending the nation-state structure was essential for fostering peace in Europe following World War II. EU integration thus has neutralized the traditional paradigm predicated on the sovereign nation-state by transferring the national sovereign rights of its member states to supranational EU structures in certain areas. Consequently, the EU has emerged as a sui generis international organization, characterized as less than a state and more than an international organization.
Robert Cooper conceptualizes the EU’s unique structure as the most developed example of the postmodern system. Cooper also argues that EU member states have gained the characteristics of a postmodern state allowing economic, social, and political areas, as well as security to be regulated according to the principle of mutual intervention. Accordingly, the distinction between domestic and foreign policy is blurred, voluntary mutual intervention and approval are accepted, the use of force in resolving disputes is rejected, and security is built on transparency, mutual openness, and interdependence.1
The EU’s foreign policy agenda, which is determined by values and norms shared by its member states and is based on spreading and supporting these values, may partly differentiate the union from other actors of international relations that have similar goals. However, the EU’s sui generis structure achieves these goals through the rule of law instead of power politics. It redefines the sovereignty of the state (post-modern state or post-Westphalian state), and uses civilian instruments to make it different from other actors –states and international organizations in the classical sense.2
