European Business & Management 2015; 1(2): 25-34 Published online July 1, 2015 (http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/ebm) doi: 10.11648/j.ebm.20150102.14 Global Security and the Role of the European Union Radomir Kana, Monika Mynarzova Department of European Integration, VSB, Technical University of Ostrava, Faculty of Economics, Ostrava, Czech Republic Email address: radomir.kana@vsb.cz (R. Kana), monika.mynarzova@vsb.cz (M. Mynarzova) To cite this article: Radomir Kana, Monika Mynarzova. Global Security and the Role of the European Union. European Business & Management. Vol. 1, No. 2, 2015, pp. 25-34. doi: 10.11648/j.ebm.20150102.14 Abstract: Present security situation in the world is differs from the Cold War and requires another approaches to solve many problems of regional or global character. To the fact, that the EU wants to play on the world political and military scene the role that is looking for, will be forced to work hard on enhancing effective (and in the future even a single) security policy, which has to be accompanied by an adequate building of military capabilities. Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), while it can be seen as a deepening of the CFSP, as well as a specific instrument of the CFSP. This article focuses on the role of the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union, which through foreign operations and missions contributes to the stabilization and security not only in Europe but also globally. Attention is also paid to the expenses EU Member States spend on defense and last but not least to the analysis of issues in cooperation of the EU and NATO as an important factor of transatlantic security. Keywords: Global Security, European Union, Common Foreign and Security Policy, Common Security and Defence Policy, EU Missions and Operations 1. Introduction The end of the bipolar division of the world in the nineties of the twenty century has significantly reduced the likelihood of a global war, but we can in no case accept that the current world situation is free of safety hazards. The current multipolarity brings new threats such as the escalation of a series of regional conflicts, which by their nature are beyond standard military strategies and procedures. Other major threats include: proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, failure states, organized crime, terrorism, international armed conflict, illegal immigration, etc [1]. In the context of global security situation, as pointed out by Kaňa, Mynarzová [2], the European Union together with other actors in global security, such as NATO and the U.S. have to assume its share of responsibility in this area. The importance of the European Union in the financial, economic and business field is unquestionable and it certainly ranks it among the world powers. With regard to this position in the world economy it undoubtedly brings a necessary duty to take adequate role on the international political scene. Foreign and security policy, which is considered one of the fundamental attributes of state sovereignty, is now - at the beginning of the 21st century- a forefront for a number of politicians who see it as a promising area for the deepening of the European integration process. The current security situation in the world is different from the Cold War and, as such, requires different approaches to solve many problems of regional or global nature 1 . If the European Union wants to play the role it seeks on the world political and military scene, it will be forced to work intensively on the process of deepening effective and - in the future - perhaps even a single security policy, accompanied by building appropriate military capabilities. Strengthening effective adequate tools in the form of Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy to enable the European Union to cope with the above challenges, due to strengthening its own military, police and civilian capacity should ensure improvement in global security. 2. Gradual Building of Security Structures in the West European Integration Process The Member States of the Community, which were developing integration on the economic level, gradually began 1 One of the key aspects of global security in the early 21st century are demographic factors, see Čajka, Kazanský [3].