There is a growing perception that the EU is becoming weaker in its relationship vis-à-vis big continental states such as the US, China and Russia. What currency does the EU’s soft and normative power hold in a world of states that straightforwardly pursue their national interests? To what degree will the EU’s own strategic “self-perception” have to change in such a world? With the continued dominance of the “Big Three” in EU foreign policy (France, Germany and the UK), the pervasive rule of unanimity and a lack of unified European defence, is the EU well-placed to maintain its position as a “post-modern” bloc? 

To debate these issues the Madariaga - College of Europe Foundation invited Nicole Gnesotto, Professor at the Conservatoire national des Arts et Métiers, and Robert Cooper, Director General for External and Politico-Military Affairs at the Council of the European Union to one of its Citizen's Controversies.  

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