EU Security and Defence Policies

As war intensifies along the EU’s borders and in regions beyond, such as Palestine, the Sahel and Yemen, the European Union faces pressing questions about its role in security and defence within an increasingly complex international environment. This section invites papers offering theoretical, conceptual, and empirical contributions on the EU’s evolving defence and security policy. We particularly welcome submissions that explore the EU’s response to contemporary challenges, including external threats such as traditional and hybrid warfare, shifts in the global order, the evolution of CSDP governance, public opinion concerns and the dynamics of integration in defence and security cooperation. In the wake of ongoing conflicts in various regions of the world, and particularly the war in Ukraine, EU member states and institutions are actively reassessing and adapting their security and defence priorities. While these adjustments represent significant progress, they also highlight key challenges that remain unresolved. Papers might explore the EU’s pursuit of defence industrial autonomy, its efforts to foster collaboration and innovation within the European defence sector, and the ways in which its security policies intersect with NATO in strengthening both transatlantic and global security frameworks. Scholars could also reflect on whether these recent developments signal the formation of a more integrated European defence union and what these shifts imply about the EU’s identity as a security actor. Furthermore, international partnerships continue to play a crucial role in the EU’s security and defence strategy. The re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States raises questions about the stability of transatlantic relations, and this presents an opportunity to assess how the EU’s security policies may adapt to shifting dynamics. Contributions are also invited on the EU’s relationships with other international partners, including NGOs, and the extent to which these partnerships are, or should be, leveraged to address shared global security challenges. We particularly encourage the submission of papers and panels that contribute to theory-building, introduce innovative methodological perspectives, explore new data or adopt non-traditional approaches to the study of security and defence policy.