EU Adjustment to New and Evolving Trends of International Security

This paper analyzes the European Union's adjustment to the current international security environment. It focuses on the selected issues of terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, cyber-security, and failed states. Moreover, it addresses the EU's engagement of emerging powers, as well as the tools and practices used when approaching other states. Structural and political determinants of the EU adjustment as well as the internal constrains of this process are discussed. The paper concludes that the EU has failed to become a leader in global security policy, although it has adjusted profoundly, it commands considerable capabilities, and it has the potential to play a much more important role. The lack of international leadership can be understood as a function of weak internal institutions and the conflicting interests among the member states.

Paper produced within the framework of the IAI project Transworld.