The European Union’s role in the international arena has been evolving in response to profound geopolitical, economic, social, and environmental transformations. In this changing global environment, understanding the EU’s position and influence requires looking beyond a single European perspective and considering how its actions are perceived across regions worldwide. This multidimensional approach enables a more effective assessment of how the EU’s policies and international engagement help shape a more sustainable, resilient, and cooperative international order.
This report builds on the international seminar “The Role of the EU in the World”, held on 21 November 2025 at the Poznań University of Economics and Business in Poland as part of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project “Resilient and Transforming Europe” (Transform EU). The seminar provided a forum for interdisciplinary dialogue on the European Union’s evolving role in the international arena and brought together experts from different regions of the world and across a range of academic disciplines.
The report presents multiple regional perspectives on the EU’s position and influence, including Asian, African, Chinese, and European viewpoints. The contributions critically assess various dimensions of the EU’s global role and explore how its policies and international engagement are perceived from these different perspectives. Together, they deepen our understanding of the European Union’s evolving place in the world and contribute to the discussion of possible ways forward and related policy recommendations.
Read the Report on the role of the European Union in the world