Entin Mark – PhD in Law, Head of Chair of the European Law, Director of the European Studies Institute of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) of the MFA of Russia

The paper presents author’s vision of the European Union as a new but key global player. The EU features as a political institution, its internal structure and system of external relationships and mechanisms of co-operation with other global actors are overviewed in detail. Special emphasis is given to the EU characteristics such as borders’ transparency and the EU member states differentiation as themselves. Factors providing political cohesion (solidarity) of the EU member states including the supremacy of law, political culture of solidarity and mechanisms for the sovereignty co-governance are analyzed profoundly. Furthermore legal and institutional base for the EU world policy practices as well as ways of its positioning on the world scene reveal with the paper. In conclusion author evaluates the EU future role and its influence rising in setting future global agenda, addressing global problems and needs, promoting future global development.