Master's Thesis

Every student of the EU International Relations and Diplomacy Studies programme is required to write a substantial Master's thesis, which is to be submitted in early May. The thesis, written in either French or English, must be an original piece of work between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length, dealing with an issue relevant to the study programme. It counts for 15 ECTS.

The thesis is written in the framework of an optional or compulsory course and supervised by the professor teaching that course. Most students benefit from the proximity of Brussels and conduct interviews with experts from the EU institutions, NATO or national representations.

To prepare for their theses, students follow the course “Research Methodology in EU External Action”, which deals with research design, methodology and theoretical approaches.

When submitting the thesis, students may apply for two of the many thesis awards dedicated to specific subjects. Some of these awards come with a paid internship for the winner at the sponsor’s organisation. Only theses with at least a very good mark will be eligible. 

The best Master's theses of the past academic years were:

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DE MARTINI Léa (FR ) — GSTÖHL
The European Parliament's increasing role in the Common Commercial Policy: Parliamentary strategies to influence bilateral trade negotiations.
» download abstract (125.88 KB application/pdf)
DE SILVA Monika (BE ) — GEURTS
Accession of The European Union to the United Nations Human Rights Treaties – Explaining Reasons for Inaction
» download abstract (129.77 KB application/pdf)
FOGARTY Susan (IE ) — YOUNGS
Catalyst for Democracy or Compromise? Deciphering the EU's Good Governance Promotion in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa
» download abstract (130.02 KB application/pdf)
KOLARZ Stefania (PL ) — LANNON
Legal Aspects of the European Union’s Approach towards the So-called “De Facto States”
» download abstract (143.65 KB application/pdf)
PARIS Constant (FR ) — SMITH H.
Could the European Union become a Guardian of the Galaxy? Assessing the international actorness of the EU in cyberspace
» download abstract (130.46 KB application/pdf)
PLAVEC Patrik (CZ ) — DAMRO
Varieties of Jurisdictions: The Neofunctional Logic of EU External Competition Policy Engagement
» download abstract (114.2 KB application/pdf)
TREMAIN Rebecca (GB ) — SCHUNZ
Which Way Forward for the EU at the UNFCCC? An Analysis of the EU’s Role at the UN Climate Negotiations
» download abstract (115.19 KB application/pdf)
VAN SUIJLICHEM Pieter-Bas (NL ) — DAMRO
In the Shadow of EU Governance. The Externalisation of EU Digital Privacy Norms beyond the Neighbourhood
» download abstract (115.72 KB application/pdf)
BOSMANS Simon (BE ) — PHINNEMORE
Devastating Divorce or Blessing in Disguise? The Impact of Brexit on EU Diplomacy through the EEAS – Focus on the EU’s Engagement with the Middle East via the MEPP and the JCPOA
» download abstract (53.62 KB application/pdf)
DESPREZ Paul (FR ) — TARDY
A Holistic Security Provider? Assessing the Implementation of the European Union’s Integrated Approach to External Crises in the Sahel
» download abstract (53.82 KB application/pdf)
HADDAD Rita (GB ) — KEUKELEIRE
Beyond Effectiveness – The EU’s Actions in Niger Regarding Irregular Migration, 2015-2018
» download abstract (52.08 KB application/pdf)
HEEMSKERK Mark (NL ) — DELCOUR
Bringing Europe to the Balkans – The Europeanisation of Croatia and Serbia Compared
» download abstract (55.24 KB application/pdf)
LO MONACO Giuseppe (IT ) — KEUKELEIRE
Which Role for Rural Development in Euro-Mediterranean Relations? Reflections from ENPARD in Tunisia
» download abstract (54.37 KB application/pdf)
PYE Katherine (GB ) — TARDY
A Means to an End or an End in Itself? The EU Integrated Approach to Conflict in Mali
» download abstract (53.76 KB application/pdf)
SCHEIDT Mélanie (FR ) — SCHELHASE
The European Union versus External Disinformation Campaigns in the Midst of Information Warfare – Will the EU Win the Battle?
» download abstract (53.6 KB application/pdf)
BONNICI BENNETT Melanie (MT ) — EKENGREN
Institutionalisation as a Result of External Triggers? The Refugee Crisis and the EU’s Externalisation of Integrated Border Management to Neighbouring Buffer States
» download abstract (53.26 KB application/pdf)
BURGESS Katy (GB ) — HOCKING
A War of Words: The Role of Public Diplomacy in Promoting EU and Russian Human Rights and Democracy Narratives in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood
LAFONT DE SENTENAC Diane (FR ) — HELLY
United in Growing Diversity: How the EU Takes Intercultural Relations into Account in its Western Balkans Enlargement Policy
» download abstract (54.26 KB application/pdf)
NIKOLOV Marc (BG ) — PHINNEMORE
Into Uncharted Waters or Close to Familiar Shores? Brexit and the Future EU-UK Defence Partnership
» download abstract (53.98 KB application/pdf)
ROUVIER Elisabeth (FR ) — DELCOUR
Breaking the Ice: The EU’s Non-Recognition and Engagement Policy for the Georgian Breakaway Region of Abkhazia
» download abstract (54.37 KB application/pdf)
BERNSTEIN Adam (GB ) — HOCKING
Not Russian to do anything? The EU Response to Strategic Narratives and Disinformation in the Wake of the Russia-Ukraine Crisis
» download abstract (45.41 KB application/pdf)
CUNY Elise (FR ) — GUILD
Constructing a New EU-Mali Migration Partnership: A Need to Understand the Strategy and the Risks of Externalizing ‘Our’ Crisis
» download abstract (46.24 KB application/pdf)
DE MONTPELLIER D’ANNEVOIE Simon-Pierre (BE ) — DELCOUR
Le leadership politique dans la diplomatie européenne : L’Union européenne face à la crise ukrainienne
» download abstract (49.18 KB application/pdf)
DIDIER Brice (FR ) — FRÖHLICH
‘Lost in Trans(Atlantic Re)Lations’: Euro-Atlantic Relations and Russian Reassertion in Light of the Syrian Conflict: Great Power Struggles in a Contested Middle East
» download abstract (48.89 KB application/pdf)
FRIED Leonard (DE ) — HERRBERG
The European Union and the Colombian Conflict: The EU’s Impact in Fostering Peace
» download abstract (48.12 KB application/pdf)
WILLIAMS-RENOUF Nye (GB ) — GSTÖHL
Knocking on Closed Doors: An Examination of the Extent to which the External Opportunity Structure Conditions EU Effectiveness in International Procurement Liberalisation
» download abstract (50.16 KB application/pdf)
BASSOTTI Giorgio (IT ) — YOUNGS
A Black Swan in North Africa: A Review of the EU’s Democracy Promotion Policies in Tunisia
» download abstract (29.26 KB application/pdf)
JACOBS Thomas (BE ) — MEERTS
The Language Diplomats Speak: A Discourse-Theoretical Approach to the Negotiations in the EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly
» download abstract (29.33 KB application/pdf)
KANE James (GB ) — GSTÖHL
Shedding Light on the “Shadow of TTIP and TPP”: Why Have Negotiations on the EU-Japan Free Trade Agreement Been Less Politicized?
» download abstract (29.36 KB application/pdf)
RICCI Matteo (IT ) — HELLY
The European Air Transport Command: A Model for Improving European Military Cooperation?
» download abstract (30.23 KB application/pdf)
UZIĘBŁO Jan (PL ) — SELDEN
United in Ambiguity? EU and NATO Interpretations of, and Policy Responses to, ‘Hybrid Warfare’ and ‘Hybrid Threats’
» download abstract (38.46 KB application/pdf)
2014 - 2015
DE RAMON ORTIZ Cristina (ES ) — BAILES
The European Union’s Arms Trade Policy: consistent with its principles? From CFSP to the Arms Trade Treaty
» download abstract (76.71 KB application/pdf)
GEMERS Tim (BE ) — PHINNEMORE
I Love You, I Love You Not. Exploring the Icelandic Public Opinion towards EU Accession
» download abstract (75.16 KB application/pdf)
GUNTHER Enrico (DE ) — BAILES
The EU's response to piracy in the global maritime domain: Are the lessons learned in the Horn of Africa a model for the Gulf of Guinea?
» download abstract (64.65 KB application/pdf)
LINDNER OLSSON Erik (SE ) — EGENHOFER
The EU at the UNFCCC: a new paradigm? An interdisciplinary analysis of climate negotiations since Copenhagen
» download abstract (65.26 KB application/pdf)
STAEGER Ueli (CH ) — HOCKING
EU-Africa Regionalism Diplomacy: Understanding the troubles of post-Westphalian Eurafrica
» download abstract (78.67 KB application/pdf)
2013 - 2014
CUNTZ Richard (DE ) — DEFRAIGNE
Une analyse des motivations européennes en faveur du TTIP, ou Comment l’Union européenne a appris à ne plus s’en faire et à aimer le bilatéralisme
DEL MEDICO Nicola (IT ) — YOUNGS
A Black Knight in the Eastern Neighbourhood? Russia and EU Democracy Promotion in Armenia and Moldova
FAR Shahrazad (PS ) — FRÖHLICH
‘In Ga(s)a We Trust’? Placing the Palestinian ‘Gas-State building’ Dichotomy on the Eastern Mediterranean Geopolitical Map
FRIEL Eleanor (IE ) — KEUKELEIRE
Riding or Reaping the Whirlwind? An Account of the EUʼs Engagement with Insecurity in Northern Nigeria
HARGROVE Elaine (AT ) — BAILES
Countering Radicalization in the EU's Southern Neighbourhood: Giving Teeth to the ‘Paper Tiger’?
KAZNOWSKI Adam (GB ) — DELCOUR
Defying the Treaty: the Influence of the Polish and Lithuanian Council Presidencies on the Development of the Eastern Partnership
KOKOLO Willy (FR ) — HELLY
How Is the EU Doing in Africa? A Methodology to Evaluate Policy Impact
O'FLAHERTY Liam (IE ) — GSTÖHL
High Steaks: The European Commission and Agricultural Trade Negotiations at the Doha Round
OSTER MENA Sonia (MX ) — BASS
Corporate Diplomacy in the EU: The Strategic Corporate Response to Meet Global Challenges
PESCE Federica (IT ) — DELCOUR
Market Power or Bazaar? Market Power Europe and the Natural Gas Sector in Central Asia
REYS Nicolas (FR ) — BAILES
The Evolution of Cyber Security: A Comparative Analysis of the Securitization of Cyberspace in the United States and the European Union
RORIVE Adrien (BE ) — DEFRAIGNE
Le transatlantic trade and investment partnership annonce-t-il le renouveau de la relation Etats-Unis – Union européenne ? Le cas de la régulation financière
2012 - 2013
Alina MATTISSON LAX (SE ) — HOCKING
EUnited We Stand? Member State Embassy Relations in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
Domhnall O'SULLIVAN (IE ) — YOUNGS
The EU and Hezbollah since the Arab Spring: Maintaining Stability in a Sea of Turmoil
Georgina WRIGHT (GB ) — HOCKING
“Winning the Hearts and Minds of Ukrainians”: The Saliency of Public Diplomacy for the Conduct of European External Relations
Leander LEENDERS (BE ) — LANNON
Restrictive Measures ‘The EU way to go’?
» download abstract (111.49 KB application/pdf)
2011 - 2012
Andreas FORREST (DK ) — Prof. KEUKELEIRE
Commercial Shipping in the High North: An Assessment of the EU’s Foreign Policy Towards the Arctic
Johannes THEISS (DE ) — Prof. MEERTS
The Process of Negotiating Military Intervention in Libya: How NATO Unites on ‘Unified Protector’
» download abstract (114.38 KB application/pdf)
Nicholas TODD (GB ) — Prof. PHINNEMORE
Theory on Trial: Why Has the EU Emphasised Cooperation with the ICTY for the States of the Former Yugoslavia?
Thomas STIEGLER (DE ) — Prof. MEERTS
Reaching for a Calculator or a Mirror? : Why Does the EU Join International Human Rights Treaties? A Case Study
» download abstract (124.69 KB application/pdf)
Tressia HOBEIKA (LB ) — Prof. KEUKELEIRE
EU Micro-Rule-of-Law Policies in Lebanon: Abiding by the Rules of the Sectarian Game?
2010 - 2011
Anselm Ritter (DE ) — C. Egenhofer
The EU’s Gas Security of Supply Risk Analysis and Management
» download abstract (112.14 KB application/pdf)
Erika Márta SZABÓ (HU ) — S. Gstöhl
Background Vocals. The Role of the Rotating Presidency in the EU’s External Relations Post-Lisbon
» download abstract (117.51 KB application/pdf)
Miruna Adina Puscariu (RO ) — P. Defraigne
L’accord de libre-échange UE-Corée du Sud : la demi-victoire d’un accord ambitieux face au benchmark néo-protectionniste de la clause de sauvegarde
» download abstract (115.9 KB application/pdf)
Roderick Harte (NL ) — S. Fröhlich
The Eu as a Civilian Power Plus in the Post 9/11 International Security Environment. A Critical Assessment of the CSDP Missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia
» download abstract (118.55 KB application/pdf)
Thomas Heidener (DK ) — C. Damro
As Time Goes By: EU Climate Change Actorness from Rio to Copenhagen
» download abstract (114.5 KB application/pdf)