Informal Groups of States: A Growing Role in EU Foreign Policy After Brexit?

Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi
RUSI Journal, 17 October 2018
Brexit, European Union, UK

Groups of states acting outside formal EU mechanisms may allow the UK to contribute to European foreign policy.

In this article, Aniseh Bassiri Tabrizi argues that, in the aftermath of Brexit, informal groups of states are likely to become a frequently adopted tool for EU member states when dealing with foreign policy issues. Because of their features, such frameworks enable the UK to continue to cooperate with the EU on an ad hoc basis on areas of mutual concern. Further, they grant a much-needed flexibility compared with treaty-based provisions.