In his rich, rigorous, and readable book, Markus Gastinger explores how the European Commission, despite being the ostensible servant of the EU's member states, has both influenced and benefited from the development of the EUs external trade policy. He argues, and demonstrates vividly, that the Commission possessed the motivation, the means, and the opportunity to play a long game, nudging EU member states gradually toward ever wider and institutionally deeper trade agreements and with them the Union as a whole.
Mark Pollack, Temple University, USA
EU Trade Agreements and European Integration is a must-read, exhaustive study of over 50 EU bilateral trade agreements. The Common Commercial Policy has been at the heart of European integration from the beginning, but how has the European Commissions power to negotiate trade agreements transformed the internal EU institutional balance of power? Gastinger provides a compelling argument, based on rich empirical material, about the consequential impact of trade agreements, one at a time, on European integration, the relative power of the Commission, and the EUs role as a global actor.
Sophie Meunier, Princeton University, USA
Gastingers book is a tour de force of EU trade policy and its role in the integration process. It is impressive in scope and covers trade negotiations over the entire EU history. It is informative and original. Great scholarly work.
Jens Blom-Hansen, Aarhus University, Denmark
The book is a most remarkable exploration of the role of the Commission and the Council in shaping EU trade agreements pointing out important institutional implications on the division of power in European foreign trade policy. A must read for all interested in EU policy making.
Adrienne Héritier, European University Institute, Italy
This carefully crafted volume relies on a rich empirical basis, gained from archival research, to test a novel argument on the role of the European Commission in EU trade policy. It is highly recommended reading for all those interested in better understanding the EU and its external relations.
Andreas Dür, University of Salzburg, Austria
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