The EU’s strategic approaches in international environmental negotiations

This paper studies the EU’s strategic approach in international environmental negotiations. Analysing the EU’s arguing, bargaining and problem-solving approaches, this paper addresses the question: How do different factors explain the strategic approach that the EU applies in international environmental negotiations? The main data sources are interviews with EU delegates, official documents and reports. Through three case studies, the paper highlights that a high ambition, a high salience, as well as end-game negotiations lead the EU to engage in bargaining and arguing. A low ambition, low salience and early-stage negotiations lead the EU to use problem-solving.