ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 takes the empirical analysis one step further and investigates the evolution of the relationship between CSDP and NATO. Starting with NATO’s history, the chapter seeks to identify the political influence of NATO on Member States. In addition, the active and strong relation between NATO and the USs seem to further complicate the political climate through its potential influence on the decision-making process of EU governments. The inclusion of these factors in the decision-making process is important on account of their impact on other areas, such as the EU defence industry. On the other hand, the decision of the EU leaders to establish the CSDP altered the equilibrium, both within the Atlantic Alliance and between the EU and the rest of the world. This chapter analyses this shift and the debate behind it in relation to the Europeanisation process by taking into account a number of factors: opportunities and gaps in political and military policies that emerged during the last two decades, the transatlantic impact of CSDP, NATO and US interaction, and the CSDP Europeanisation dynamics.
