How to Make a Strategy?

Abstract

This chapter addresses the “how” question in strategy-making. How is a strategy produced and how has the EU gone about it? It begins by reviewing the methods used both in the production of the 2003 ESS as well as in its 2008 sequel: the Implementation Report on the ESS. It extrapolates the lessons learned from these two exercises and how these were applied when developing the EU Global Strategy 13 years later. Much like in 2003, a novel method had to be developed so as it ensure that the document produced would be coherent and fairly concise. But unlike 2003, a much wider and deeper process of consultation was necessary precisely in view of the difficult predicament the Union is in.