System Of The Eu's Common Foreign Trade Policy Analysis

From an institutionalist perspective, the paper analyzes how the EuropeanUnion's Common Commercial Policy (CCP) operates under carious institutionalfactors. Ever since the establishment of the CCP, it has been praised for the success ofthe European integration project. But, in the environment of "institutions" at threelevels, namely competence distribution on the constitutional level, power relationshipon the structural level and decision-making rules on the procedural level, the CCPhas not been as effective as imagined or expected. Fight for competence over tradeissues between the Commission and member states was clearly reflected in changes oftexts in the EC/EU Treaties. Lack of Community competence has long been ashortcoming for the CCP. The Commission is merely an agent and implementer inCCP and dependent on the Council of Ministers and its subordinate institutions.Interference from the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice hasbeen more negative than positive on the CCP. The decision-making mechanism"unanimity" in the Council of Ministers has fairly much impact on the CCP policymaking and execution. All these institutional factors contribute to curbing andhandicapping the coherence and effectiveness of the Common Commercial Policy.