Samenvatting

In this dissertation the changes that are made by the Lisbon Treaty in the field of foreign policy are examined. The conflict in Libya in 2011 is used as a case study. The objective of this dissertation is
to examine if the actions and decisions that were made by the European Union and its Member States were conform the standards that were set out, and promises that were made in the Lisbon Treaty.
The European Union has not only grown in power because of gradual enlargement, it has also grown in power by the addition of several policy areas over time. One of those new policy areas
was the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The Treaty of Maastricht was the first treaty that expressed the political aspirations of the Union and the ambition to develop a joint foreign policy.
From then, the foreign policy of the Union has more and more evolved into the current policy in the Treaty of Lisbon. Knowing that most Member States are not willing to give up exclusive power to the Union in the field of foreign policy, the new treaty's aim is to enhance the coherence of the foreign policy. This should then improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the missions of the Member States in EU context. One of the major innovations is the creation of the post of High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security policy who, together with the Commission, is responsible for the coordination of all EU external action.
The conflict in Libya is used as a case study because it was the first mayor security -related conflict after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. Therefore this conflict was a great opportunity for the EU to show the functioning of the new post of High Representative, and to implement the innovations that were made by the treaty. Libya was one of many Arabic countries that experienced demonstrations against the present regime in 2011. The violations against the protestors demanded a response and concrete action from the European Union and its Member States. The conclusion shows that the different reactions and positions of EU Member States have a large impact on the functioning of the HR and on the incoherent response of the Union. Furthermore, the innovations that are made by the Lisbon Treaty seem to be insufficient in order to deliver a unified voice from the Member States.