Fractious domestic debates, the fragmentation of regional politics and growinginterstate competition all affect the capacity of the EU to forge a joined-up andsustainable foreign and security policy (EUFSP) in crises and conflicts. The problemis amplified by EUFSP governance structures, which have evolved irregularly,with a multiplicity of actors resorting to an increasingly diverse array of policyinstruments when engaging with external players on multilateral, regional andbilateral levels. The potential for improved action depends on the capacity of EUinstitutions and member states to work within the multi-dimensional perimeterof the EUFSP governance system to create the conditions to mitigate the effects ofintra-EU contestation, regional fragmentation and multipolar competition.