The European Union and the Third Pillar

This chapter assesses the European Union’s relationship with the pillars of the RtoP, in particular the conceptual desire, political will and capabilities the organization possesses to deploy military assets in situations when a state is “manifestly failing to protect its own population” (United Nations, 2005). In undertaking this analysis, the chapter understands that the RtoP is a wide-reaching norm, encompassing both military and non-military approaches. Through focusing explicitly on the third pillar debate, an important contribution is made to an area where there has been a great deal of speculation but little substantial policy development. Moreover, the author writes in the knowledge that the use of military assets comprises only a small part of the European Union’s foreign policy tools.