ABSTRACT
This statement was made by an experienced head of delegation – an ‘ambassador’ of the European Commission and thus the European Union (EU). This brief account synthesizes the puzzle of non-state diplomatic representation. It depicts the main institutional components of the EU’s diplomatic and foreign policy machinery, puts forward a personal view of the strategy that the EU should pursue in order to obtain more viable institutional arrangements, and highlights the ambition to exert influence and gain respect on the international scene.
