Common but not single : conceptualising the EU as sui generis diplomacy

This chapter examines whether the European Union (EU) could be considered a sui generis diplomacy construct exclusively, or it is (becomes) a single diplomacy agent? The answer is: it depends on the perspective chosen. If we adopt an anlytical perspective, which allows to explain how foreign policy goals conflate at the level of state and non-state actors then it is possible to conceptualise the current EU diplomacy system in terms of a as sui generis one. In what follows Stepehen Keukeleire's structural diplomacy paradigm (2003, 2009) is applied to explain interrelational character of policy goals sourrounding the EU's diplomatic agenda-setting and its agency. The chapter first analyses the EU as non-state diplomacy in (still) state-centric diplomatic milieu. It then provides an insight into the EU's diplomacy major agency dilema, namely: efficiency vs. internal cohesion. In concluding remarks, the chapter draws prospects for the EU sui generis diplomacy in the post-order times.