The Militarization of the European Union and US-Europe Relations

Abstract

Firstly, this article traces the development of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) of the European Union from the “Blair Initiative” in October 1998 to the European Council in Santa Maria da Feira in June 2000. The idea of conducting military crisis management by the EU has gained quick consensus among the 15 member countries. The major reason for introducing this new policy is because of the EU's incapability in Bosnia and then in Kosovo.
Secondly, it deals with US attitudes towards the ESDP since EU military crisis management needs to establish a modality of cooperation with NATO. Hitherto, there has been no formal contact between NATO and the EU mainly because France has tried to impede strong US influence on EU affairs. The US administration has an ambivalent attitude towards the development of the ESDP. It might damage NATO cohesion while stronger European capabilities might strengthern NATO and reduce the US burden.
At the moment, the EU has no idea about its territorial defence. Many countries in the EU oppose it for different reasons. The UK believes that it is NATO's mission, and Sweden, Finland and other countries are not in favor of being involved in a military alliance. This is one of the rationales for the EU's developing capabilities of non-military crisis management which is based on a tradition of a “civilian power.”
In order to conduct military crisis management, the EU needs to have real military capability and decision-making mechanisms. The EU-NATO mechanisms for consultation and cooperation is another challenge. Lastly, this article examines future prospects. This evolution might lead to a changing balance between Europe and the US, if the EU successfully develops its military capability.