While the current Euro crisis looks like it may even tear the EU apart, questions are being raised in capitals cities of the world’s rising powers that may increasingly dent the confidence of proponents of Europe as a key international player. At first glance, it’s tempting to think that 2084, a new book anonymously authored under the nom de plume Simon Q., is meant to be a successor to Orwell’s masterpiece 1984. But these are two different books. While Orwell set his novel in the future as a warning – of where we could be going, Simon Q. sets his novel in the future as an indictment – of where we are now. 1984 is of, primarily, historical or literary interest; 2084 is as relevant to Europeans today as the latest downgrade of their countries’ sovereign debt ratings. The ongoing EU crisis that some believe can well challenge Europe’s global role makes the analysis in this book all the more relevant.

Since the initiation of the ‘Global Europe’ strategy, which set out a new agenda reflecting European strategic priorities in trade, the European Union has launched Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with various Asian countries in an attempt to address barriers to EU exports. The removal of both tariff and non-tariff barriers in these so-called ‘new generation’ agreements helps to open up new markets for European exporters and increase European competitiveness.

On November 25, Moroccans went to the polls to cast their historic vote in what were the first parliamentary elections in the region since the Arab Spring began, following the adoption of broad constitutional reforms in July. The results of the elections in Morocco, the first country to enjoy an Advanced Status in its relations with the EU, will be closely watched in Brussels. Taking place only a month after Tunisia, birthplace of the Arab Spring movement, handed power to a previously-banned party of moderate Islamists, should Europe be concerned about another Islamist party scoring landslide victory in legislative elections in Morocco?

An important innovation made by the European Union’s (EU) Constitutional Treaty and the later Lisbon Treaty, the European External Action Service (EEAS) survived the controversy which surrounded both treaties and finally came into existence in January 2011. It is undeniable that the EEAS proposals hold much promise for improving the EU’s effectiveness, capability and coherence on the world stage.