La versione dell’Unione europea. Il volto del regionalismo espresso nel Capitolo VIII della Carta secondo la prassi della UE.

Given that the EU regularly contributes to international peace and security as a regional organization within the meaning of Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the essay investigates in what manner it implements Articles 52, 53 and 54. The relevant practice shows that peaceful activities are usually coherent with the strategy carved by the UN Security Council, in accordance with three different patterns featuring a growing coordination between the EU and the UN: parallel alignment, coordination proper, invitation. Armed activities are usually authorized by the UN Security Council in accordance with Article 53, yet they turn out to better follow the alternative “utilization pattern” laid down therein. The inherent out-of-area character of EU actions aimed at protecting international peace and security is coherent with Chapter VIII but makes the role of the Union quite peculiar in legal terms.