Security systems of the European Union and Europe: difficulties of identification, transformation prospects, postnational context

Abstract

This article discusses a number of questions associated with security systems of the European Union and Europe. Special attention is given to the problem of identification of boundaries of functionality of these systems under the influence of various regional and global processes. The author examines the peculiarities and prospects of transformation of the EU security system and its elements, as well as the potential impact of these transformations upon the relations with other interested actors of international relations (United States and Russia). The article describes the key defense initiatives of the European Union that can contribute to intensification of integration processes in the union and propel the European Union to the whole new level of integration. The novelty of this work consists in the analysis of integration processes in the area of defense and security within the framework of postnationalism and postnational identity of the European Union, and this, based on the EU citizenship. The author reveals the factors promoting the creation of a new type of defense institution, as well as the factors impeding this process. Based on the studied materials, the author anticipates the possibility of establishment of the autonomous EU defense agency. This research is conducted in the period of political instability caused by a number of regional and global challenges for the European Union, namely the major challenge of 2019 – 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.