Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of European Union (EU) as a Essay

Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of European Union (EU) as a foreign policy actor - Essay Example f measuring the EU’s external behavior and its policymaking in order to conclude if there is or not an European Foreign Policy, the theoretical interest has been mainly centered in the theoretical capability-expectations gap and in categorizing and defining not the EFP but the EU’s international role. It is only lately that some studies have pointed out the relevance and the need of a Foreign Policy Approach (FPA) to help explain the complex arena of the European Union’s Foreign Policy. To adapt FPA to the European Union, an original and unique political organization, poses no insuperable problems. The difficulty is to apply an FPA approach to â€Å"European Foreign Policy†. In my view the concept of â€Å"European Foreign Policy† is the problem. For some analysts EFP is synonymous with EU’s Common Foreign and Security policy (CFSP) which should be differentiated from the European Community external competences (the traditional trade policy and the new development policy complementary to those of the Member States). Recently Hill (2002: 2-3) employs the term â€Å"European Foreign Policy† to the ensemble of the international activities of the European Union alone, not only CFSP activities but also including outputs from the other two EU’s pillars, considered as a â€Å"mass of activity† which cannot be pretended to be in itself coherent. Others find the former definition to restrictive and consider that EFP takes three forms: member states Foreign Policy, Community external relations and Union’s CFSP. In this context EFP is understood as a system of external relations or a Foreign Policy system where these three strands can be differentiated for analytical purpose. Although these perspectives stress that a key research task for the analyst is to establish the extent to which these forms have become interwoven over time, the fact is that this notion of EFP emphasizes the distinct sets of activity more than their interaction. These definitions of EFP tend

Short report about living wall Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Short report about living wall - Essay Example Aside from the well-known Canadian Universities such as Waterloo and Queens, there are other Canadian installations of living walls. There are also a plethora of cost and environmental benefits to Nova Insurance, as well as physical and mental health benefits to its employees and clients. Loose walls are not recommended for Nova Insurance, as the plants are grown in the same manner as most house plants. They are in a pot of soil, which requires periodic replenishment and creates an untidy look that is also difficult to maintain in a public setting. Mat systems are created of a cork fibre or felt matting. This method will only support mature plant growth up to five years before reparation is required. This system requires constant irrigation as it is unable to hold water like loose media. This will create an additional cost requirement, as a hydroponics system is required. Structural systems are akin to a block type of system, which can be created in a plethora of sizes, thicknesses and shapes. This is the most recommended media, as they do not require renovation for up to 15 years. This type of system is most readily adaptable to architectural requirements of Nova Insurance, as well as most easily maintained and replaced as necessary. This system offers the highest longevity and performance among the three media. Overall, the structural media is often the most expensive to install initially, however, its maintenance cost is the lowest; longevity is the highest and the most vigorous in growth to achieve second floor expansion. Among varying universities across Canada, there are several other installations of living walls. One such installation is located in Richmond, BC at Vancouver International Airport. This living wall is both interior and exterior. This living wall was designed not only to be aesthetically pleasing, but also to assist the environment through