A militarised union

Only a couple of years ago, warnings about an EU military- industrial complex seemed far-fetched; it is now becoming a reality of which the EU is increasingly proud.
Disturbingly, the EU and its Member States have taken significant steps in recent years to divert attention and resources from civilian to military priorities. The development of joint military capabilities has been encouraged, and commitments to increase military spending are being made, based on the notion that the European project is under threat and that a ‘stronger Europe’ is needed on the global stage. Calls for the EU to make use of its military weight globally are getting louder and louder. However, the shift in discourse, structure and financing to prioritise militarisation will neither secure peace nor address the structural causes of the conflicts which have been, and will continue to be, fuelled not least by the exploitative economy of a neoliberal EU. This booklet offers a comprehensive introduction to the discourses, structures and actors at the core of the militarisation of the EU. It deconstructs common myths about the supposed economic and political benefits of closer military cooperation, explains why this paradigm shift threatens peace and human security worldwide, and presents peace policy concepts and approaches to take action. 70% of the sales price goes to Stop Wapenhandel to support there work. A pdf of the booklet can be found here: https://stopwapenhandel.org/app/uploads/2021/09/A-militarised-Union2.pdf