The EU's Commitment to Effective Multilateralism in the Field of Security: Theory and Practice

Embracing “embedded security”: the OSCE's understated but significant role in the European security architecture

“…The most developed and formalized instance of international security can be found in Europe, and in this context the OSCE plays a vital role (Hopmann 2003). The overlapping competencies of the European security organizations: NATO, the EU, and the OSCE constitute what scholars have come to call the "European security architecture" (Nerlich 1994, Anderson 1995, Stephany 1995, Ruhle and Williams 1997, Stivachtis 1997, Aybet 2000, Borchert 2001, Kernic 2006, Makarychev 2009, Vines 2010, Wouters et al 2010, Hofmann 2011). …”

The EU as a Multilateral Security Actor After Lisbon: Constitutional and Institutional Aspects

“…The argument holds that in order for the EU to shape the security environment pursuant to its own policy priorities there is a need for increased coherence. Coherence could be translated into consistency in the EU's external activity in various multilateral frameworks, such as the UN and NATO, as well as in terms of congruence between external policies of the Member States and that of the EU (Wouters et al 2011a). Coherence could also entail visibility.…”

The EU as a Multilateral Security Actor after Lisbon: Constitutional and Institutional Aspects

“…There is much disagreement about how to define and effectively apply the concept within the specific context of EU external relations. The ESS remains vague in this respect: it does not provide a clear definition of what 'effective multilateralism' means, or what an effective multilateral system implies (Wouters et al 2011a). The 2008 Report on the Implementation of the European Security Strategy states that…”

“…The argument holds that in order for the EU to shape the security environment pursuant to its own policy priorities there is a need for increased coherence. Coherence could be translated into consistency in the EU's external activity in various multilateral frameworks, such as the UN and NATO, as well as in terms of congruence between external policies of the Member States and that of the EU (Wouters et al 2011a considered important for the EU as a strategic actor (Missiroli 2001). Furthermore, if the EU seeks to apply multilateralism effectively in its external relations, it should display effective coordination and establish clear organizing principles that constitute an added value for, and are abided by, all parties concerned (Wouters et al 2011a: 167).…”