A Wake-up Call for a European Security Provider?

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, defence and security have moved up the political agenda in the European Union (EU). The European Commission has launched several initiatives that build on the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), established in its current form by the Lisbon Treaty in 2009. The new CMS report "A Wake-up Call for a European Security Provider? EU Security and Defence Policy, the War in Ukraine, and the End of the Danish Opt-out" examines the EU's efforts to strengthen its security and defence policy and looks at the implications for Denmark following the abolition of the EU defence opt-out. The report is authored by Clemens Binder and is published in collaboration with Djøf Publishing.

The report's three themes

The report analyses three themes: First, the debate on strategic autonomy and how the development of CSDP strengthens the EU as an independent security policy actor. Secondly, how CSDP strengthens the EU's role as a global actor.  Finally, the different positions of the member states in the field of security and defence policy and challenges in the EU's decision-making processes regarding CSDP are presented.

Recommendations

CSDP has gained new relevance for Denmark after the abolition of the EU defence opt-out. This means that Denmark can participate fully in the cooperation, including the European Defence Agency (EDA) and other programmes related to the development of military capabilities. This creates both challenges and opportunities for Denmark. Against this background, the report formulates several recommendations on how Denmark can adapt to, contribute to, and influence the development of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy in the future.

Download the report "A Wake-up Call for a European Security Provider?" 

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