Hi! Thanks for the interesting question.
The European Union since its inception to the mainstream of global
events has not only been an actor in the world but a major player as
well.
I have found a document, which could be most important to your
research since it, discuses the role of the EU as an actor in these
times of globalization. I highly suggest that you read this and the
other articles in their entirety so as to get a more comprehensive
coverage of your query. I will provide short snippets so that you
could get an idea of what the article is about.
Note: The particular document,
“Challenges for a Responsible European Union in a Global Society” is
in PDF format so you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to read it. In
case you haven’t installed it yet here is a link so you could download
The Adobe Acrobat Reader
(http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).
Excerpts:
“But why should that power be constituted in the first place? Why
strengthen another political player on the global scene and make the
EU a ‘global actor’?”
“The point made in this introduction and throughout the report is that
it is a matter of responsibility. The EU and its member states
exercise a lot of influence in globalization through a multiplicity of
channels: by being leading members of multilateral organizations like
the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Trade Organization (WTO); by providing, together, 55% of official
development aid; by engaging in far reaching regional agreements with
countries of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP), of the
Mediterranean, Latin America and Asia and of Eastern Europe; by being,
together, the largest international source of foreign direct
investment; by being home to some of the largest companies in the
world; by being the largest consumer market in the world; by adopting
common policies like on agriculture that have consequences
everywhere.”
“But then, how can the EU, its member states and its citizens,
continue to exercise so much power and influence on the rest of the
world without harnessing that power and defining a vision for its
exercise? Responsibility means here control over one’s actions that
bear on others.”
“Another element stems from the fact that the EU and its member states
cannot participate in addressing global issues without ensuring
greater consistency in their various policies that bear on the rest of
the world. The point comes out sharply from the second part of the
report: addressing effectively issues like global warming,
de-forestation, corruption, or debt requires the use of a multiplicity
of instruments and policies along the different channels identified in
the first part. Responsibility means here to contribute effectively to
addressing collective problems.”
“Challenges for a Responsible European Union in a Global Society”
http://www.boell.de/downloads/europa/sidreport.pdf
The following links meanwhile are supporting articles about the global
role of the EU.
The European Union first made its presence felt in the economic stage
and played a big part in global economics. Since 1999 the EU has shown
itself as a powerful economic entity.
“The European Union is the world's biggest trading partner, accounting
for over a fifth of all exports in 1999. Since its earliest days, the
EU has been committed to removing trade barriers between its
individual members on the grounds that this will stimulate economic
prosperity and national and individual well-being. It has championed
the same principles on the world stage.”
“The European Union: A Global Player”
http://www.eudel.lt/en/eu_global_player/trade.htm
This status has been solidified by the adoption of the Euro in the
global economy. The following article provides a glimpse of the
effects of the EURO on world economics and politics as well.
“Advocates of the Euro argue that competing in the global economy
against the United States and the Pacific Rim countries demands closer
integration of European economies.”
“These advocates make a good point. For an economic market to work
smoothly, exchange rates must not disrupt trade or investment through
their unpredictable movements. Only a single currency can shelter
firms and individuals from these disruptions. Stable currencies have
historically lead to stable, democratic governments. The European
Union should be no different.”
“Furthermore, foreign exchange rates result in sizeable transaction
costs which widens the ‘wealth’ gap between nations.”
“Euro can bring EU into the global economy”
http://www1.roanoke.com/columnists/shareef/4524.html
In the global political scene, the EU is slowly providing a key role
of influence. Of course there will always be challenges, but according
to the author of this article, it is just a matter of time before the
EU can be a collective political power.
“Following the introduction of its single currency, the euro, the EU
now plans to intensify its efforts to forge common foreign and
security policies, and to strengthen its military capabilities, at the
same time that it expands to include much of Central and Eastern
Europe.”
“Those plans have been given new momentum by the war in Kosovo, which
revealed embarrassing European military and diplomatic weaknesses.
That does not mean that they will be easily fulfilled, or that Europe
is about to become a political giant overnight.”
“But it is clear that the direction in which the EU is heading is
intended to give it a much larger say in world affairs, politically as
well as economically, and that that poses fundamental questions for
the United States.”
“EU Starts to Stir as a Political Power”
http://216.239.53.100/search?q=cache:H_pgrOPIVY8C:www.iht.com/IHT/RD/99/rd070999.html+EU+%22european+union%22+%22political+power%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
One of the present problems besetting the EU’s prominence as a global
political power is the unity among its member nations in terms of
foreign policy.
“Complicating the picture for the EU is the fact that foreign and
security policy is not designated as falling within the competence of
the Union. It is a key residual power reserved for the member states.
But the states acknowledged the external pressures pushing them toward
mutual cooperation when they appointed Javier Solana to be the EU's
first High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy.”
“The director of the European Parliament's press service, David
Harley, says: ‘It is felt to be very important for our [EU] relations
with other key regions, continents and governments around the world
that the European Union should have a single representative that can
speak in its name, and that is the role of Mr. Solana as High
Representative for Foreign and Security Policy. But it is not an area
that, formally speaking, has entered the sphere of community
competence. It is [instead] an area where governments come together,
and share ideas, and take common decisions.’”
“EU: Can The Union Find Coherence In Its Foreign Policy?”
By Breffni O'Rourke
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2002/02/26022002091200.asp
Search terms used:
Euro "global economic role"
EU "european union" "social effects" “political power”
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
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Regards,
Easterangel-ga |
