THE EUROPEAN UNION – A GLOBAL ACTOR?
THE EUROPEAN UNION – A GLOBAL ACTOR?

Summary/Abstract: The paper deals with conclusions reached during the Slovak Strategic Forum (May 22 – 23, 2009) discussions focused on the European Security and Defence Policy. The conclusions from the 3rd Slovak Strategic Forum have been published in PANORAMA of global security environment 2009 by Center for European and North Atlantic Affairs1 . It examines a security dimension of bilateral relations between the European Union and Russia, with emphasis on a proposal of the Russian President Medvedev to create a pan-European security system. The paper accentuates the significance of energy within mutual relations, too. It examines options that the Slovak Republic, as an EU member, has within formulation of its interests towards Russia. It summarizes the security experts’ opinions on five years of existence of the European Security Strategy and concludes that it is necessary to develop a new document which should be prepared in coordination with preparation of a new NATO Strategic Concept. It focuses on the EU missions and importance of the EU battle groups in terms of comparison between the EU’s soft power and hard power. The paper assumes that the EU capabilities and capacities, including a participation of the Slovak Republic, will be strengthened. In spite of existing troubles within common engagement of civilian and military forces, the paper admits a future possibility of their connection.

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