
EU External Relations Law
Text, Cases and Materials
Hart Publishing
3rd Edition
Published on 19. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
512 pages
978-1-5099-9035-1 (ISBN)
Description
The first edition of this seminal textbook made a significant impact on the teaching of EU external relations law. This third edition continues to be the leading text in the field. It retains its hallmark dual perspective, looking at questions from an EU constitutional law perspective (the principles, powers, and the role of the institutions); and an international law perspective (the effects of international law within the EU, and the position of the EU in international organisations such as the WTO). It continues to explore key policy areas such as trade, security and defence, police and judicial cooperation, the environment, and human rights, drawing on the expertise of leading scholars in these fields. The book's 'text, cases, and materials' approach provides students with a one-stop shop resource, allowing them to gain a thorough understanding of how the law has developed in this area, its judicial interpretation, and scholarly appraisal. Each chapter concludes with a section entitled 'The Broader Picture of EU External Relations Law', which weaves together the diverse and complex materials into a coherent whole and stimulates critical discussion of the topics covered. The fully revised third edition captures a wide range of new legislative instruments, international agreements, case law, and practice of EU external action developed over the past half decade in response to a geopolitically more challenging environment. Alongside the editors, contributors include Anne Thies, Andrea Ott, Jed Odermatt, Morten Broberg, Laurent Pech, Joelle Grogan, Gracia Marin Duran, and Claudio Matera. For this third edition, new contributors, including Marisa Cremona, Tamas Molnar, and Viktor Szep, provide additional expertise and fresh perspectives. The text has benefitted from the participation of student assistants who have advised on writing style and approach, ensuring ease of use and comprehension.
More details
Edition
3rd edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 166 mm
Thickness: 29 mm
Weight
875 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5099-9035-1 (9781509990351)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2026
3rd Edition
Hart Publishing
€66.49
Available for download

E-Book
01/2026
3rd Edition
Hart Publishing
€66.49
Available for download
Persons
Ramses A Wessel is Professor of European Law at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
Joris Larik is Associate Professor of Comparative, EU and International Law at Leiden University, the Netherlands.
Joris Larik is Associate Professor of Comparative, EU and International Law at Leiden University, the Netherlands.
Editor
University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Leiden University
Content
1. The European Union as a Global Legal Actor, Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen) and Joris Larik (Leiden University)
2. Principles of EU External Action, Anne Thies (University of Glasgow) and Marise Cremona
3. EU External Competence, Andrea Ott (Maastricht University)
4. Instruments of EU External Action, Joris Larik (Leiden University) and Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen)
5. The EU and International Law, Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen) and Tamas Molnar (University of Vienna)
6. The EU and International Institutions, Jed Odermatt (City St George's, University of London)
7. Common Commercial Policy, Joris Larik (Leiden University)
8. EU Development Policy, Morten Broberg (University of Copenhagen)
9. Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy, Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen),Victor Szep (University of Groningen)
10. EU External Human Rights Policy, Laurent Pech and Joelle Grogan (Middlesex University London)
11. EU External Environmental Policy, Gracia Marin Duran (University College London)
12. The External Dimension of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, Claudio Matera (University of Twente)
13. The EU and its Neighbours, Peter Van Elsuwege (Ghent University)
14. The External Dimension of Joining and Leaving the EU, Joris Larik (Leiden University), Peter Van Elsuwege (Ghent University)
2. Principles of EU External Action, Anne Thies (University of Glasgow) and Marise Cremona
3. EU External Competence, Andrea Ott (Maastricht University)
4. Instruments of EU External Action, Joris Larik (Leiden University) and Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen)
5. The EU and International Law, Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen) and Tamas Molnar (University of Vienna)
6. The EU and International Institutions, Jed Odermatt (City St George's, University of London)
7. Common Commercial Policy, Joris Larik (Leiden University)
8. EU Development Policy, Morten Broberg (University of Copenhagen)
9. Common Foreign, Security and Defence Policy, Ramses A Wessel (University of Groningen),Victor Szep (University of Groningen)
10. EU External Human Rights Policy, Laurent Pech and Joelle Grogan (Middlesex University London)
11. EU External Environmental Policy, Gracia Marin Duran (University College London)
12. The External Dimension of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, Claudio Matera (University of Twente)
13. The EU and its Neighbours, Peter Van Elsuwege (Ghent University)
14. The External Dimension of Joining and Leaving the EU, Joris Larik (Leiden University), Peter Van Elsuwege (Ghent University)