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The Evolution of EU’s Maritime Security Thinking

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Developments and Advances in Defense and Security

Part of the book series: Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies ((SIST,volume 152))

Abstract

Maritime security is a fundamental vector in the security of the European Union (EU). Such importance resulted in the adoption of several strategies that contribute to the protection and attainment of maritime interests such as freedom and safety of navigation, maintenance of supply chains, food and energy security, blue growth, assumption of the EU as a global actor, among others. The EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) is the core strategy guiding the EU in the protection of the seas, yet EU’s thinking extends beyond the EUMSS. This article explores the process that leads to the formulation of the EUMSS and the changing functions that maritime security played in the overall strategic objectives of the Union. It finds that the EU’s maritime security conceptualization was driven by higher levels of EU engagement in maritime socioeconomic development and marine environment protection. Subsequent to perceived successes in its maritime security efforts, the field was instrumentalized by the Union to support and legitimize its security and international actorness. Maritime security is perceived as an integral part of EU’s global strategy, thus, there are attempts to mainstream maritime security in EU policies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    E.g., law enforcement, border control, customs and fisheries inspection, environmental authorities, maritime administration, research and innovation, navies or other maritime forces, coast guards, intelligence agencies [8].

  2. 2.

    E.g., North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities—New University of Lisbon (FCSH-UNL), Avenida de Berna 26C 1069-061, Lisbon, Portugal

    João Almeida Silveira

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  1. João Almeida Silveira
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Correspondence to João Almeida Silveira .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia Informática, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Álvaro Rocha

  2. Military Engineering Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Robson Pacheco Pereira

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Silveira, J.A. (2020). The Evolution of EU’s Maritime Security Thinking. In: Rocha, Á., Pereira, R. (eds) Developments and Advances in Defense and Security. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 152. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-9155-2_22

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