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This Introduction explores the role of general principles of law in EU external relations and their impact on the EU's identity as a global actor.

June 11, 2026Open Access

General Principles in EU External Relations Law and the EU as a Global Actor: An Introduction

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Introduction examines general principles of law in EU external relations, highlighting their role in shaping the EU's identity as a global actor.

This Introduction explores the role of general principles of law in EU external relations and their impact on the EU's identity as a global actor.
Reviewed recent case law from the Court of Justice regarding general principles of law in external relations.
Identified central themes: EU as a value-driven actor, a coherent and consistent actor, and an effective actor in international challenges.
Analyzed contributions in the Special Section to understand the implications of GPs for the EU's external actions.
General principles mediate tensions between autonomy and effectiveness in the EU's external actions.
Contributions illustrate how GPs support the EU’s normative identity and legal accountability externally.
The analysis highlights the relationship between internal constitutional values and their projection in international contexts.

Kassoti et al. (2026) studied this question.

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Introduction examines general principles of law in EU external relations, highlighting their role in shaping the EU's identity as a global actor.