Environment and Security: Institutional Approaches Within the European Union

Environment and security has only recently been discussed within the framework of the European institutions. This mirrors the development from a purely economic community to the wider vocation of the European Union (EU) which is now beginning to create a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Work has already been done in many areas relating to environment and security, particularly in policies which address resource sharing, and in assistance to third countries, including work on conflict prevention. The questions raised are global ones and should be addressed at that level. For example, the work which is already being done within the UN system to which the EU also contributes.