The role of the EU in peace and security.

Since the creation of Europe, security and defence concerns have been both of primary importance and highly controversial. Early attempts to set up a defence union were largely unsuccessful. New security threats arising at the end of the cold war provoked a renewed interest in security and defence-related issues.
Three determinants shape the role and influence of the EU as a global-regional actor in peace and security:

• Capacity (institutional, material, human and operational, and financial) to undertake missions;
• Willingness to devote resources to security and defence purposes, mainly driven by member states’ priorities; and
• Acceptance (internal and external) of the EU as a leading actor in peace and security.

Source : http://unu.edu/publications/articles/the-role-of-the-eu-in-peace-and-security.html