Cross-Pillar Security Regime Building in the European Union: Effects of the European Security Strategy of December 2003

Using an empirically driven case study of the effects of the European Security Strategy of December 2003 this article assesses the trends and nature of European security regime building. In assessing EU security regime building it explores, first of all, a securitisation of the European agenda as a top-down approach – initialled by the European Council that extends the security zone on Europe’s periphery through the emergence of a multilateral order and the development of the foreign and security tool box. Secondly, this research suggests that the EU security regime building as a bottom-up process remains under construction within all three EU pillars by everyday policy-making. More important is the fact that the EU pursues a rigid strategy seeking to create the most total vision of a multidimensional security understanding in order to privilege the fight against terrorism at the regional and global level.