The EU as an Interorganizational Influencer?

This article seeks to address the European Union’s (EU’s) role as an interorganizational influencer

vis-a-vis regional organizations. More specifically, it examines and assesses the extent to which the

EU has been able to shape the institutional designs, policies and practices of the African Union (AU)

and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the security domain. Both organizations

are regional of nature, possess specific tasks and responsibilities which include the realm of

security, and maintain interorganizational relations with the EU. While the EU has been heavily

influenced by international organizations and international institutions, it also has the potential itself

to exert interorganizational influence. This potential can put the EU in different positions as

interorganizational influencer. These positions vary from role model and to a limited influencer. It

is argued that in the early stages of the EU’s interorganizational relations, its ability to shape the

evolution of its counterparts is greater than once the relationships have been strengthened because of the

EU’s tools and resources. The case examples of the AU and ASEAN will serve to illustrate the

varying degree of the EU’s influence on international organizations.