ESDP and the non-EU NATO members

Abstract

This report highlights challenges faced by the non-EU NATO members as the EU elaborates a common policy of security and defence. One conclusion is that the 6 non-EU NATO members have different security and defence approaches towards the EU, due to the fact that some of them will become EU members. As the only probable remaining non-EU NATO-members, Norway and Turkey will be particularly hit by NATO´s “ESDP-isation”. Another conclusion drawn is that NATO, for the first time in its history, will discriminate between EU and non-EU members. A two-tier, as well as a two-pillar NATO is being created implying that one of NATO´s purposes in the future is to provide military services for missions in the European area. The present report is based upon a talk given by the author at an ESDP conference organised by the Royal Military Academy in Brussels on 8 March 2002.