Introduction: The EU as a Regional International Organization

This introductory chapter canvasses out some general thoughts on the broader topic of ‘the EU as a Regional International Organization (rio)’ thereby setting out the context and framework for the discussion that follows in the subsequent chapters.
First, it highlights the relevance of employing the rios’ analytical lens in international legal discourse. The chapter argues that the rios’ angle offers unique insights that feed into a number of important debates in modern international institutional) law. Against this backdrop, it continues by exploring the merits of using the ‘regional perspective’ in debates regarding the EU. It is shown that the regional framing offers a fresh vantage point of view from which to approach lingering questions of EU law.
The chapter concludes by providing an overview of the contributions in the edited volume.