This is a study of the European Union's external decision-making processes and the present debate which surrounds them. It considers in turn three main elements of these processes, the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the External Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)and the Common Commercial Policy (CCP).

When Germany took over the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2007, it was confronted with high hopes for the outcome of its presidency. These expectations stemmed from a long list of pressing problems and challenges the EU was facing. This report will concentrate on whether the German presidency was able to push forward an ambitious agenda in the field of security and defence policy and further developed ESDP instrument. It will also give an outlook for the future development of ESDP.