Over the past six decades, the EU has been granted unique powers that enable it to act prominently on the international plane, thereby developing a worldwide bilateral and multilateral diplomatic network.

Much like states, the EU sends ambassadors to all corners of the world and accredits permanent missions at itsBrussels' headquarters.

These developments shake the foundations of diplomatic and consular law, as these branches of international law are based on the principles of state sovereignty, non-interference, and reciprocity.

Traditional conceptions of international law only allow states to perform diplomatic andconsular functions, leaving little room for non-state entities such as the EU. Sanderijn Duquet addresses this fundamental problem by re-visiting the foundations of diplomatic and consular law, as well as analysing EU practice in initiating, conducting, and terminating diplomatic and consular relations.

In particular, she focuses on the scope of EU diplomatic and consular powers, especially in relationship to its member states; its application of the Vienna Conventions and customary international law; the EU's use of creative legal techniques; the diplomatic and consularprotection of EU citizens; questions of protocol and precedence; and the legal status of the EU's diplomatic staff and premises abroad.

By critically analysing these issues, this book assesses the specific contribution the EU makes to the shaping of diplomatic and consular law.