The EU and its Neighbourhood: the New Regional Security Dimensions of Europe
The EU and its Neighbourhood: the New Regional Security Dimensions of Europe

Author(s): Dacian Duna
Subject(s): Security and defense, EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development
Published by: Publishing Inc. European Readings & Prodifmultimedia/Editura Napoca Star
Summary/Abstract: The European Union is not just a security organization, although especially since the signing of the Nice Treaty (2000), has been trying to assert itself much more in the area of security and defence, as a part of the desire expressed by many European leaders to give the Union a global role measuring its economic size. Looking at its performance in the field, it must be admitted that the EU has not acquired yet significant military capabilities for peacemaking not to mention deterrence, using instead civilian capabilities made available by its Member States. These form the framework of the main EU contribution to the European security. Paradoxically, perhaps the most important EU contribution in the security field have been so far the financial instruments used in its relations with the Central and Eastern European countries: PHARE, ISPA, SAPARD, Tacis, Interreg etc. The regional landmarks of the Common Foreign and Security Policy coincide, up to a certain point, with the landmarks of the policies concerning the cross-border cooperation of the European Union. In fact, the cross-border cooperation is perceived by the EU as an extremely useful tool for strengthening security and stability in Europe, starting from the experience of European integration in devising networks of functional interdependence that made war between democracies unacceptable.

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