At the end of the current millennium the best description of Europe’s relations with the developing countries of the South is: all change. Since 1958 the European Community has operated special policies for developing countries, many of which were formerly European colonies. However, neither the policies for Central and South America, the Lomé Convention for the African, Caribbean and Pacific states, nor successive policies for the Mediterranean countries reflect a unified Europe.

The European Union and the South begins by investigating the prospects for a common European foreign policy. It argues that Europe has developed a complex web of external relations but no common foreign policy. In so far as the EU seeks a special world role to overcome its image as political dwarf, the role of champion or partner of the developing South has much to recommend it.

This book presents an up-to-date, scholarly analysis of the foreign and development policy dilemmas facing Europe today. It will be essential reading for students of European external relations, development policy and international affairs.

The author

Marjorie Lister is a Lecturer in Europe-Developing Country Relations at Bradford University.