The European Union is the institutionalized result of an ongoing process of cooperation between European nation states that started as consequence of the Second World War. It is a unique kind of supranational cooperation, a ‘sui generis’ in international politics, and evolved in incremental steps, which are unforeseeable and therefore hard to theorise.
This essay aims to answer the question if the EU will become a military power. In order to forecast a possible future scenario, we must take into account historical events and decisions that shaped the current structure of the EU, especially in regards to security and defence. We must also consider wider developments and trends, and identify what has prevented the EU evolving into a military power so far. Afterwards, the essay will outline recent events and decisions in security and defence field. Based on these facts, the assessment about the EU as military power can be made.
Table of Contents
1. Historical development
2. Cause analysis
3. Recent situation
4. Conclusion and forecast
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay explores the potential for the European Union to evolve into a cohesive military power, examining the historical, political, and institutional factors that have historically hindered its integration in security and defence policy while analyzing the impetus for recent reforms.
- Historical evolution of European security and defence initiatives.
- Structural obstacles and national sovereignty constraints within the CFSP.
- Impact of geopolitical shifts and external crises on EU defence policy.
- Evaluation of recent initiatives like PESCO, the EDF, and CARD.
- Strategic autonomy and the role of NATO in the EU’s future.
Excerpt from the Book
Cause analysis
Despite several attempts at closer cooperation, the EU remains a limited player in the area of security and defence. There are several reasons for this:
Firstly, member states continued protect their national interests and power positions, and ruled out interference in the domain of foreign policy, security and defence (cf. Howorth 2014: p. 4). Despite the unique supranational character of the European Union, its nation states remain the only legitimate source of sovereignty. Every transfer of power from national governments to the EU requires an amendment of the Treaties of the European Union and, hence, the political support and will of those member states (cf. Richter 2017: 104).
Secondly, due to the lack of support for structural changes by the member states, all EU foreign policy arrangements within the CFSP are based on intergovernmental mechanisms. The unanimous consensus of member states, required for every reform, has resulted in prolonged decision-making processes and means the speed of further defence cooperation and integration is ‘determined by the slowest wagon in the train’ (Blockmans 2017: 2). In contrast to other areas of EU politics, member states retain the ability to veto foreign policy, security and defence decisions and advance their own national interests.
Summary of Chapters
Historical development: This chapter traces the origins of EU security cooperation from the failed European Defense Community in the 1950s to the establishment of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) following the Cold War and the Yugoslav conflicts.
Cause analysis: This section identifies the key barriers to a unified EU defence policy, emphasizing the persistence of national sovereignty, the reliance on intergovernmental decision-making, and differing strategic cultures among member states.
Recent situation: This chapter discusses how contemporary crises—including the Syrian conflict, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the Brexit vote—have acted as catalysts for renewed efforts toward strategic autonomy and deeper defence integration.
Conclusion and forecast: The final chapter summarizes the EU's potential as a global military actor and argues that long-term success requires the surrender of national vetoes and the implementation of qualified majority voting.
Keywords
European Union, Common Security and Defence Policy, PESCO, European Defence Fund, Strategic Autonomy, NATO, Sovereignty, Crisis Management, Defence Integration, Hybrid Threats, CFSP, European Global Strategy, Foreign Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay investigates whether the European Union can effectively evolve into a military power, given its historical struggles with supranational integration in the defence sector.
What are the central themes discussed?
The main themes include national sovereignty versus supranational cooperation, the influence of historical institutional failures, and the impact of recent geopolitical instability on EU defence policy.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to assess current prospects for a unified EU security policy based on recent legislative and structural changes.
What methodological approach is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis of historical developments, treaty frameworks, and contemporary geopolitical events to evaluate the EU's strategic positioning.
What is covered in the main body?
The main body examines why previous attempts at defence integration failed, identifies the current geopolitical reality, and evaluates specific new instruments such as PESCO and the EDF.
Which keywords define the work?
Key terms include European Union, CSDP, PESCO, Strategic Autonomy, European Defence Fund, and national sovereignty.
How has the Brexit vote influenced European defence discussions?
The Brexit vote acted as a catalyst; the departure of the UK, which had historically blocked deeper integration, allowed remaining members to pursue more ambitious cooperation projects like PESCO.
What is the significance of the "slowest wagon in the train" analogy?
It highlights the constraint of the unanimity requirement in EU decision-making, where the speed of progress is dictated by the most hesitant member state.
- Citar trabajo
- Marius Rauschenbach (Autor), 2018, Will the EU become a military power? Current structure and trends in security and defence, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/495892
