The European Union operates in an increasingly complex and unstable global environment, shaped by profound geopolitical, economic, technological, and civilisational transformations. Alongside the ongoing green and digital transitions, Europe is experiencing a broader shift from an industrial to a knowledge-based civilisation, marked by growing uncertainty, conflicts, and evolving patterns of international cooperation. These developments raise fundamental questions about the EU’s position, influence, and capacity to respond effectively to global challenges while contributing to 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 as part of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project “Resilient and Transforming Europe” (Transform EU). The project aims to deepen understanding of the current and future challenges facing the European Union, particularly in the context of the twin green and digital transitions, and to generate and disseminate evidence-based knowledge for policymakers and the wider public. The seminar provided a forum for interdisciplinary discussion of the EU’s evolving role in international relations and brought together experts from different regions of the world and across academic disciplines.
The report presents five interconnected perspectives on the European Union’s role in the world. It examines Europe’s engagement with Asian security challenges, the development of the African Union–European Union innovation partnership, EU-China relations, EU-Russia relations, and, from a European perspective, the key issues and future directions emerging from the debate. Together, these contributions offer Asian, African, Chinese, and European viewpoints on the EU’s position and influence, deepen understanding of its global engagement, and inform discussion of possible policy responses and future directions. In doing so, the report supports the wider objectives of the Transform EU project by promoting research into Europe’s sustainable development, resilience, and transformative capacity to address global challenges.
Table of contents
English version
- Introduction (Katarzyna Nawrot, Grzegorz Mazur, Ida Musiałkowska)
- Asian perspective: Europe’s turn towards eastern security is overdue (Jagannath Panda, Katarzyna Nawrot)
- African perspective: Beyond the narrative – grounding the AU–EU innovation partnership in local realities (Mafini Dosso)
- Chinese perspective: EU–China relations (Justyna Szczudlik)
- European perspective: EU–Russia relations (Jarosław Domański)
- European perspective: The role of the EU in the world – key discussion points and future perspectives (Jakub Kociubiński)
Wersja polska
- Wprowadzenie (Katarzyna Nawrot, Grzegorz Mazur, Ida Musiałkowska)
- Perspektywa azjatycka: europejski zwrot w kierunku bezpieczeństwa wschodniego (Jagannath Panda, Katarzyna Nawrot)
- Perspektywa afrykańska: poza dominującą narracją – osadzenie partnerstwa innowacyjnego Unia Afrykańska–Unia Europejska w realiach lokalnych (Mafini Dosso)
- Perspektywa chińska: relacje między Unią Europejską i Chinami (Justyna Szczudlik)
- Perspektywa europejska: relacje Unia Europejska – Rosja (Jarosław Domański)
- Perspektywa europejska: rola Unii Europejskiej w świecie – najważniejsze punkty dyskusji i perspektywy (Jakub Kociubiński)
Suggested citation: Nawrot, K., Mazur, G. i Musiałkowska, I. (red.). (2026). The role of the European Union in the world. Report from the seminar held within the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence project “Resilient and transforming Europe” Transform EU. Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Ekonomicznego w Poznaniu. https://doi.org/10.18559/978-83-8211-307-5