ELTE University Lecturer Delivers Guest Lecture on EU Foreign Policy and Sanctions for PSIR students at IUS
On Thursday, October 22, 2026, the International University of Sarajevo (IUS) hosted a guest lecture by Anna Sebestyén, a lecturer at the Department of Global and Development Studies at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, Hungary, titled “The Role of Coherence in the EU’s Foreign Policy and Its Sanctioning Practice.”
The lecture was attended by students enrolled in the IR215 – EU System course, taught by Asst. Prof. Dr. Hamza Preljević. The event was organized by the IUS Department of Political Science and International Relations (PSIR) in collaboration with the IUS Balkan Studies Center (BSC), as part of the academic cooperation between IUS and ELTE University.
During the lecture, Professor Sebestyén explored the importance of coherence in the European Union’s foreign policy, particularly in ensuring the effectiveness and consistency of its external actions. Drawing on the legal and political framework established by the Treaty of Lisbon, she explained how tensions can emerge between EU institutions, policy areas, and policy objectives, potentially affecting the Union’s ability to act consistently on the international stage.
A particular focus was placed on the EU’s use of restrictive measures, commonly known as sanctions. The lecture compared sanctions adopted under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) with the suspension of aid, examining how coordination among EU institutions and Member States can influence the implementation and effectiveness of these measures. Sebestyén also discussed the vertical and horizontal dimensions of policy coherence and their relevance to the EU’s current sanctioning practice.
The guest lecture provided students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of EU foreign policy-making and the practical challenges involved in coordinating the Union’s external action. It also offered valuable insights into the relationship between the EU’s institutional framework, political objectives, and the implementation of foreign policy instruments.
The PSIR Department and IUS look forward to continuing and expanding their collaboration with the Department of Global and Development Studies at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE).
