Some Reflections on the EU’s International Responsibility

Abstract This contribution provides comments on the topics dealt with in the individual papers of the special issue of the Journal. It equally reflects on the general context of the topic of international responsibility of the European Union (EU). It points to the special factual, normative and operational features of the EU, which are at the core of the EU’s outbound profile as it reaches beyond its regional membership and results in treaty relations with non-EU States. These features also make it a challenge to square the EU into other legal frames, whether it is the question of joining treaties or that of fitting to the general rules of responsibility, especially concerning rules of attribution. The paper concludes by pointing to a paradox, since for treaty-making purposes the EU is admitted to a group of States, while for treaty-breaking and other responsibility issues it belongs to a group of international organisations. This dualist perception underpins the issues in these articles and also forces to find solutions in international practice.