The European Commission's Position in the Field of Security and Defence: An Unconventional Actor at a Meeting Point

Abstract

Due to its indirect role in the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the European Commission seems to be a marginal actor in European security governance. As a result, there is little analysis of its role in this field. This approach is somewhat misleading because the EU policy-making process is more complex than it appears. The interdependence between the EU's external policies has increased the interaction between supranational institutions and national governments. Moreover, developments in security and defence at the EU level have opened up a window of opportunity for several actors. This paper will show that the structuring of the European field of security and defence is the result of interaction among various actors. From a sociological standpoint, the paper aims to understand the role of the Commission by shedding light, not only on its position in the field, but also on its relations with the other actors, both state and non-state, involved in EU security governance. Using this relational approach, the paper will argue that the Commission is the meeting point for the actors in the field, playing a coordinating role on the one hand, but facing many challenges on the other.