Inviting Interpillar Incoherence Mapping out the Reasons for Horizontal Incoherence in the European Union's External Relations and Why This Matters

Abstract: This thesis addresses the problem of horizontal incoherence between the first and second pillar of the European Union in its external relations. Horizontal coherence is an important concept for the European Union's legitimacy and strength. Internally, coherence is essential for the Union's democratic legitimacy, as democratic influx comes from the Council. Externally, to the extent incoherent positions result in unfulfilled external policy goals, observing the set of moral duties that legitimize the Union's right to carry out ?social good? is at stake. Scrutinizing interpillar relations in the EU's policy implementation process in the field of external relations, the main suggestion of this essay is that incoherence has two sources of origin: one is the institutionalized intra-EU cleavage of competences within the Union's organizations. The other derives from the theory of organizations, explained consuming Barnett & Finnemore's bureaucracy theory. The theory proposes that through analyzing international organizations such as the EU as bureaucracies rather than as extensions of states? power, we can establish a solid foundation for interpreting their behavior.