LAUSR

ABSTRACT The European Union demonstrates varying patterns of impact in multilateral negotiations. In some areas the EU focuses on shaping the outcome document of negotiations through the use of multilateral means. In other areas, however, the Union is merely preoccupied with a process of negotiations that contributes to the collective benefit of multilateral dialogue. While discussions of the EU’s process and outcome effectiveness are not new, this article provides an explanation for when and why the EU is effective in terms of process or outcome of multilateral negotiations. The EU focuses on shaping the outcome of negotiations under a condition of prevailing uncertainty, whereas the dominance of complexity leads to the EU’s inclination to influence the negotiation process. In order to probe these assumptions, the article examines the EU’s role in the multilateral negotiations on arms trade and nuclear non-proliferation.