ABSTRACT
Germany has, in recent years, been one of the strongest proponents of strengthening the defence element of European integration. This chapter shows not only that this German commitment has increased since 1989, but also helps explain why this has been so. An examination of the various pressures that impinge on German security policy shows how security discussions and initiatives at the European level have impacted on German policy. In particular, and paradoxically, European pressures served to increase Germany's autonomy in the field of defence. They gave the government more room to manoeuvre and enhanced Germany's influence over its partners. While Europe has by no means been the most important constraint on state autonomy, it has, especially in recent years, increasingly impinged on domestic debate and so affected policy outcomes.
