The purpose of the course is to explore the external relations of the EU and familiarize students with the role of the EU in international affairs. The course examines different aspects of the involvement of the EU in the international arena. After looking at the history of EU external relations, it examines the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The course also analyses the nature of the external economic relations of the EU. It also considers EU enlargement policy as well as EU’s relations with its eastern and southern neighbours by looking at European neighbourhood policy. Finally, the EU’s relations with its key international partners - the United States, Russia and China - are also discussed.