Security and Defence in Europe

This book argues that security and defense have never been true priorities in the European Union, and have constantly been marginalized by the elites since the Soviet Union collapsed and the Warsaw Pact disintegrated. Despite the official rhetoric, only a few tangible results can be presented concerning the operational readiness of European forces, and the EU’s inability to act was proven during the crises in the Balkans, NATO has experienced similar problems, as the majority of its members are EU countries. Both organizations have declared their resolve concerning the security and defense of their nations and territories, but, unfortunately, little has been done to lend these statements credence.

In this context, the book analyzes several aspects of EU security and defense, including: the EU – NATO relationship, common defense policy and strategy, common capability building, common understanding of strategic changes, common operational planning and centrally synchronized exercises based on operational planning, etc. The member states have helped to make EU/NATO effective organizations, but unfortunately their individual interests and priorities constitute real challenges. This aspect should be discussed and addressed by political and military elites, scholars, analysts, students and the general public alike.  

Prologue.- Introduction.- Part I: Security Issues.- Social science and security culture’s three streams of energy.- The EU defence against a new type of threat: corruption.- European cybersecurity: future challenges from a human rights perspective.- The refugees issue in the frame of European security: a realistic approach.- The meta-tragedy of the Commons. Climate change and the securitization of the Arctic Region.- Part II: Defence aspects of European Union.- From the European Defence Community to the Permanent Structured Cooperation.- The Permanent Structured Cooperation: its true potential value.- Untangling the separate concepts of security and defence in the context of BREXIT.- Why nations fail?.- European Union vis-a-vis Non-Proliferation Treaty, Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty.- Part III: Outer Borders of Europe.- Northern Flank considerations.- How can Europe cope with challenges at its Southern flank?.- Maritime dimension in the fight against illegal migration: the Southern Europe Western route.- Eastern Flank of EU and NATO – challenge and opportunity.- Part IV: NATO.- Russia’s A2/AD policy as a balancing strategy versus NATO enlargements.- NATO-UE cooperation: milestones and challenges.- EU-NATO relations.- Rough times ahead for NATO.- Epilogue.