EU Norm Promotion in a Conflictual World. An Existential Necessity with Obstacles?

The treaties of the European Union (EU) commit it to promote the norms and values upon which it is founded in relations with countries outside of its borders. At the same time, the EU is often criticised for not being the global ‘force for good’ that it likes to portray itself as, especially in regard to democracy. Instead, the EU is criticised for primarily promoting its own short-term interests, just like any other global actor. This chapter argues that such a failure to stand up for its value-based norms risks challenging not only the EU’s legitimacy, efficiency and influence globally, but ultimately also its survival. In this era of geopolitical conflict, when the democratic order is facing a frontal assault by authoritarian regimes globally, it is crucial that the EU stands by a norm-based world order. The EU needs to stand up for its values, and to protect its long-term interests, even if doing so may counteract interests short-term. Drawing on experiences of norm diffusion related to democracy and climate action, especially in relation to the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood, Jonasson discusses how this can be done, focusing on securing orientation towards, local ownership of, and genuine dialogue on, the norms involved.