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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 03/03
Security Governance
June 2002
Abstract
The common language on security governance remains a mid-to long-term objective for the Euro-Med community. But, the conceptualisation of security governance is a possible way to problematise security sector reform and democratic control of armed forces in the Euro-Med context. The EU as a civilian power had in the past little authority to deal with politico-military matters. This is now changing with the operationalisation of ESDP. From a EU perspective there are three motivations to promote security governance in the Mediterranean:
- Security governance is part of the overall effort of the EU to strengthen democratic political institutions in Partner countries;
- Security governance represents an additional modicum for the EU to promote certain criteria and standards as part of its economic partnership and development assistance programmes; and
- Security governance becomes an issue with the EU involvement of third parties in ESDP operations.
The Euro-Med Partner states, in turn, may have little interest in the promotion of security governance, as this would add new liabilities to a democratic deficit, that is often perceived a product of Western neo-colonial machinations. North-South common interests exist, however, in the relationship between security and development. This correlation could be used as a premise for a top-down approach that could lead to the entry of the concept of security sector reform into the Euro-Med framework.
