Along with the old threats – proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, organised crime and regional conflicts - the security update also includes new threats, such as climate change, energy security, cyber-crime and piracy, EUobserver.com reports.
The new EU security strategy is expected to be adopted in the EU summit 11-12 December.
The document is adopted as the EU shows an unprecedented level of interest in the Arctic. The new EU Arctic Communication from the Commission outlines a far higher activity level in the region, both with regard to climate change issues, security, energy and research.
The higher focus on energy security and climate change was also reflected in the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana’s and Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner’s paper on Climate Change and International Security from March this year.
With regard to Russia, the new security strategy document reads that “the EU expects Russia to honour its commitments in a way that will restore the necessary confidence. Our partnership should be based on respect for common values, notably human rights, democracy and rule of law, market economy principles as well as on common interests and objectives,” EUobserver.com reports
The European security strategy was for the first time drawn up in 2003 under the authority of the EU’s High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and adopted by the Brussels European Council in December 2003.
Read the 2003 European Security Strategy here
