The European Union's foreign policy in a fragmented international order: between strategic autonomy and pragmatic plurilateralism

This article examines the reconfiguration of the European Union’s foreign policy within a global environment marked by the fragmentation of the liberal international order. The study pursues four objectives: to explicate the theoretical foundations of open strategic autonomy and pragmatic plurilateralism; to delineate the three autonomy levels—responsibility, contingency-reserve, and emancipation—through concrete policy instruments;to assess the benefits and risks associated with plurilateral formats; and to formulate recommendations relevant to the Republic of Moldova. The analysis demonstrates that the EU addresses systemic fragmentation by combining strategic autonomy with “coalitions of the willing and able”, advancing digital, climate, and financial standards without undermining the existing multilateral architecture. The approach yields notable advantages—accelerated decision-making and enhanced normative leverage—yet also reveals limitations, including perceptions of exclusivity and a potential for further fragmentation of trade rules. Policy recommendations for Moldova include: early harmonisation with EU digital and climate legislation; energy and industrial diversification via participation in REPowerEU and the Critical Raw Materials Alliance; and strategic utilisation of the green-digital opportunities offered by Global Gateway, all intended to strengthen economic resilience and accelerate European integration. The article was developed in the framework of the Jean Monnet Chair project ERASMUS-JMO-2023-CHAIR no. 101126798 “EU’s Role in the Emerging International System” (EUREIS), and the subprogram “The National Security of the Republic of Moldova in the Context of EU Accession: Legal, Political Science and Sociological Approaches,”no. 01.05.01.