The Movers and Shakers of the European Security and Defence Policy: The influence of the ESDP on its own development during the institutionalization phase 2000-2007

Abstract

The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) was established in 1999 by EU Member States. The ESDP's ambition was to conduct EU-led military operations and to enhance defence integration among Member States. An EU military institution has been a delicate issue since it touches the sovereignty of a state. In its first years of existence, has the ESDP been able to effect European defence integration or has this remained an intergovernmental issue? This thesis researched the degree of influence of ESDP bodies on the development of the institution during the institutionalization phase of 2000-2007. It made use of two important approaches of institutionalist theory that have a different perspective on the role of institutions on their own progression; sociological institutionalism and rational choice institutionalism. The development of the ESDP has been categorized in an operative and integrative aspect to serve as the structure of the thesis. The outcome of the thesis states that although European defence integration has remained an intergovernmental issue, several bodies and mechanisms that have been created within the ESDP during the institutionalization phase could give the ESDP more control on its own development at the expense of Member States.