European strategíc autonomy - The foundations and limits of cooperation

Abstract

As a consequence of the crises that had emerged in Europe and its neighbourhood in the past decade,  starting the discussion on the possibilities of  increasing the security of the continent’s states and  their ability to act independently – even without the  United States – became necessary. The central  question of this study is whether it would be possible  to create European strategic autonomy, in  which the critical element is the willingness to  cooperate in the mid- to long-term. To map up  possibilities, first the elements of strategic culture,  then the willingness of European states to cooperate  is examined, and finally the similarities and  differences of national positions regarding the  creation of strategic autonomy are evaluated based  on a secondary analysis and synthesis of primary  research results. The analysis points out that  European states are still characterised by strategic  disharmony, while the preferences of states  regarding their willingness to cooperate are  significantly territorial. Also, currently there are  significant differences in the interpretation of  strategic autonomy and their level of ambition  thereof.