Abstract

Security issues have been at the heart of the integration process in Europe since its early days. Today, the European Union is one of the most notable security providers in its region through a unique combination of policies and tools that address internal and external security concerns. This chapter, by focusing on the international presence and contribution of the Union in the sphere of security, offers two distinct ways of analysing the European Union: as a security community held together by shared values and mutual trust, and as security actor that writes itself into existence as a global security provider with a distinct identity. The chapter also explores the implications of these two distinct perspectives on the Union’s relations with the Middle East.