Driven by Geopolitical Events: The Impact of the Ukraine Crisis on EU Maritime Foreign and Security Policies

Abstract

This chapter adds to our understanding of the mechanisms informing EU maritime foreign and security cooperation and EU foreign and security integration more broadly by exploring the impact of external, geopolitical factors. It does so by examining the impact of the Ukraine crisis on member states’ discussions and agreements on the EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) and the EU Arctic policy. The chapter makes the claim that EU policies can only be understood against an increased Russian aggression and in particular its involvement and behaviour in Ukraine. Rather than undermining the CFSP, this geopolitical crisis led to enhanced integration and cooperation in a different but interrelated and increasingly important policy field—maritime security—developed in parallel but not independently of the Ukraine crisis.