Introduction

Abstract

Recognizing that there is not one official European Union development policy but many different national approaches that are currently affected by internal crises (such as BREXIT) and external challenges (massive migration pressures et al.), the introduction to this volume argues that the EU’s development policies are situated between the bloc’s normative ideals and the global geopolitical realities in which it is embedded. In order to investigate these tensions, two key questions are introduced, which examine for the current role of the “normative power” Europe concept and perceptions from recipient countries toward the EU’s international aid engagement.