A European Defence Union

Jacques Fontanel () and Ronald Smith
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Jacques Fontanel: CESICE - Centre d'études sur la sécurité internationale et les coopérations européennes - UPMF - Université Pierre Mendès France - Grenoble 2 - IEPG - Sciences Po Grenoble - Institut d'études politiques de Grenoble

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Abstract: : National defence arrangements appear to be increasingly complex due to budgetary pressures, rising costs and changing threats. There is a risk of massive investment in defence at a time when threats are diminishing, when Europe remains completely dependent on the United States and in a context where a policy of effective neutrality could be imposed through structural disarmament. Threats to European interests may not find echoes and support from the US Government. There are clear advantages to joint procurement by member countries because of the high fixed costs of R&D and the learning curve effects associated with weapons. The main problems to be resolved concern the differing perceptions of national interest among states, highly heterogeneous military strategies and competing industrial interests.

Keywords: European Defence Union; Military expenditures; armament industries; military strategies; NATO; USA; Défense commune de l’Europe; dépenses militaires; industries d’armement; stratégies militaires; OTAN (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1991-04-18
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/hal-02970613v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (23)

Published in Economic Policy. A European Forum, Economic Policy Review and ENS, Apr 1991, London, United Kingdom

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