By creating a common foreign policy the EU stands to maximize its international clout and leverage over the globe, in much the same fashion as it has done with its united economic policies. European integrationists imagine the EU becoming a major global power, speaking with one voice, substantially increasing its political clout. As a major power the EU could stand to become a counterbalance to the United States, stabilizing the current unipolar world system and offering a real alternative on the global scene. However, standing in the way of such pursuits is the EU member states unwillingness to give up national sovereignty, along with their own individual foreign policy interests, orientations, traditions, and histories. Achieving global superpower status is most unlikely, but the EU can still make great strides in the area of foreign affairs if it can develop some common ground to work upon. This thesis seeks to expand upon the literature discussing the European Unions foreign policy process. It seeks to clarify the issues preventing the development of meaningful foreign policy, and therefore contribute to the body of knowledge concerning the difficulties that the EU faces. By examining the recent events of the preamble to the war in Iraq, this study analyzes the CFSP as it is to date, and draws conclusion about the nature of collective decision-making within the EU. It is also valuable in its analysis of the foreign policy process and how this in turn reflects upon the wider process of European integration.

By creating a common foreign policy the EU stands to maximize its international clout and leverage over the globe, in much the same fashion as it has done with its united economic policies. European integrationists imagine the EU becoming a major global power, speaking with one voice, substantially increasing its political clout. As a major power the EU could stand to become a counterbalance to the United States, stabilizing the current unipolar world system and offering a real alternative on the global scene. However, standing in the way of such pursuits is the EU member states unwillingness to give up national sovereignty, along with their own individual foreign policy interests, orientations, traditions, and histories. Achieving global superpower status is most unlikely, but the EU can still make great strides in the area of foreign affairs if it can develop some common ground to work upon. This thesis seeks to expand upon the literature discussing the European Unions foreign policy process. It seeks to clarify the issues preventing the development of meaningful foreign policy, and therefore contribute to the body of knowledge concerning the difficulties that the EU faces. By examining the recent events of the preamble to the war in Iraq, this study analyzes the CFSP as it is to date, and draws conclusion about the nature of collective decision-making within the EU. It is also valuable in its analysis of the foreign policy process and how this in turn reflects upon the wider process of European integration.

This thesis examines the European Peace Facility and more specifically how this off-      budget fund has been put into effect in Ukraine in light of the recent events of the Russian invasion of 2022.  This thesis will carry out a single case study about how the European Peace Facility (EPF) has been established in support of Ukraine since the end of February 2022. It will also analyse data that concerns the support provided by Member States to Ukraine to provide a better picture of how the EPF has been implemented in Ukraine. The topic can be deemed to be remarkably recent since the situation in Ukraine is still in rapid development. This is proved by the fact that European Union’s Council Decisions that are analysed in this dissertation are still being further amended. Moreover, the topic is relevant for the field of European Studies since it provides a preliminary study of these unprecedented matters that have had a profound impact on the EU. Theories of Intergovernmentalism and Supranationalism will be employed to analytically analyse the material.  This thesis will conclude that even though the EU bodies have had a marginal role in the implementation of the EPF, their response has been timely. The funds allocated by the decisions of the Council of the EU to support Ukraine are quite a substantial part of the whole financial reference of Facility. It is also discussed that the Member States have committed to a great extent to the support of Ukraine both in the training of Ukrainian troops through the EUMAM Ukraine and through the provision of weapons and arms to the UAF. In addition to this, the thesis draws considerations which connect the theory and the single case in question.