欧洲安全研究所-欧盟的军控挑战（英文）-2021.4-56页_1mb

Summary of "THE EU'S ARMS CONTROL CHALLENGE: Bridging nuclear divides"

Core Content

This Chaillot Paper by Clara Portela from the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) explores the EU's evolving role in nuclear arms control, non-proliferation, and disarmament. It highlights the EU's strategic approach, its challenges in a fragmented international environment, and its potential to act as a bridge-builder in the context of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference (RevCon).

Main Points

1. EU's Role in Nuclear Arms Control and Disarmament

• The EU has developed a comprehensive strategy against the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) since 2003, which has been central to its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).
• The strategy emphasizes technical and financial assistance for threat reduction, coordination in international forums, and the management of proliferation crises.
• The EU has played a key role in resolving the Iran nuclear dispute through its coordination with the E3 (Germany, France, and the UK) and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

2. The Crisis of Nuclear Arms Control

• The international arms control regime is in crisis, marked by the demise of key treaties such as the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and the temporary extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).
• The NPT, the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime, has also faced challenges, particularly with the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which is opposed by some EU members.
• The EU is not a party to any of the major arms control treaties, which puts it in a unique position to mediate and promote dialogue.

3. EU's Internal Divisions and Nuclear Status

• EU member states have a wide range of attitudes towards nuclear weapons. While all are parties to the NPT, only France is a nuclear-armed state.
• NATO allies are divided on the use of nuclear deterrence, with some hosting nuclear weapons (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands) and others relying on the nuclear umbrella.
• Four EU countries (Austria, Finland, Ireland, and Sweden) are nuclear-free and traditional advocates of disarmament, while Cyprus and Malta are less active in this regard.
• There is a notable divergence between public opinion and government policy, with significant public support for nuclear disarmament in some key EU states.

4. The WMD Strategy as a Turning Point

• The 2003 WMD Strategy was a pivotal document that outlined the EU's priorities and methods in non-proliferation.
• It included a broad threat analysis and a range of potential measures, from multilateralism to the use of force under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
• The strategy led to the creation of new institutional and financial mechanisms, including the Personal Representative for Non-Proliferation and the European Commission's non-proliferation unit.
• The 2009 Lisbon Treaty further institutionalized the EU's non-proliferation efforts by merging units and creating a permanent chair for the Working Group on Non-Proliferation.

5. Current Challenges and Opportunities

• The EU faces a complex landscape in nuclear arms control, with both external and internal challenges.
• The postponement of the 2020 NPT RevCon due to the pandemic has given the EU more time to build consensus, but the underlying structural divisions within the NPT regime remain.
• The EU is uniquely positioned to foster dialogue between gradualists and abolitionists, and to support the development of a new arms control treaty system.

Key Information

• The EU has been a major provider of technical and financial assistance in the field of arms control and non-proliferation.
• The NPT Review Conference, especially the 2015 and 2020 editions, has been a focal point for the EU's efforts to promote disarmament and non-proliferation.
• The TPNW has created a split among EU members, with some supporting it and others opposing it.
• The EU's nuclear status is complex, with a mix of nuclear-armed, nuclear-hosting, and nuclear-free states.
• The EU's internal consensus on nuclear issues is not uniform, and this has implications for its external policy and effectiveness in multilateral negotiations.

Conclusion

The EU's arms control challenge lies in navigating the current crisis of nuclear treaties while maintaining internal unity and promoting a multilateral approach. The paper suggests that the EU can play a critical role in bridging divides and supporting the revitalization of the global nuclear arms control regime.