Repercussions of the Emerging European Security and Defence Policy on the Civil Character of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership

One of the most important integration projects being developed by the EU at present is the pursuit of an autonomous European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). As the world’s largest exporter and second largest importer, the EU can already be defined as a leading international economic power [CAP, 2002:4]. Once achieved, ESDP might result in an equivalent role for the EU in the sphere of foreign, security and defence policy. Although it will presumably take quite a long time before ESDP functions fully, those countries and regions that maintain special relations with the EU, among them the Union’s Mediterranean Partner Countries (MPCs), can already begin to assess the forthcoming changes.