Is democracy becoming a factor in the EU's security? : the evolution of EU policies and discourses resulting from the war in Ukraine

Abstract

The founding aspiration of European integration was to provide peace. Over the decades, commitment to democracy has become a feature of the EU, enshrined in the Treaty of Lisbon among its core values. At the same time, security, particularly after the failure of the European Defence Community in 1954, has remained outside the core of European integration. These two policy streams, democracy and security, have remained separated from each other for decades. The Russian invasion of Ukraine brought a shift in EU discourses and policies, highlighting the prospect, if supported by further political commitments and actions, for democracy to become a factor in European security and a guiding pillar of EU policies. This policy analysis presents and discusses the evolving discourses and policies of the EU with regard to democracy, focusing on the impact the Russian invasion of Ukraine has had on this process.