Abstract

The author provides an analysis of both the theoretical background and the empirical developments of the constitutional discussion on the nature of the EU as an international entity. The early debate of the Seventies and Eighties on EC/EU as a "civilian power" is reconsidered on the basis of the dramatic changes of the international environment (end of the bipolar world, globalization, new security agenda) on the one hand, and, on the other hand, of the reform of the EU institutions opened by the European Convention. The author focuses on the model of "mixed government" as the most appropriate to cope with an updated version of the concept of civilian power.