The EU
The European Union (EU), established by the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, is a continuation of the European cooperation initiated after the end of the Second World War.
The basic idea underlying the founding of the EU was to draw the countries of Europe into mutual interdependence through greater cooperation. Commitment to binding agreements between members was intended to lessen the likelihood of war and conflict. This increased cooperation has been pursued in depth (by including more and more new members) and in depth (by expanding to more and more political areas). Norway is not a member of the EU, but is closely linked to it through the EEA agreement on economic cooperation, the Schengen Agreement on police cooperation and border controls, and various other agreements. Relations with the EU have become an important component of Norwegian foreign policy.
Learn more about NUPI's research on Europe on the webpage of NUPI Centre for European Studies.
EU research at NUPI focuses on questions such as:
- What is happening within EU foreign policy and defence politics?
- How does the EU handle its neighbourhood relations to the Middle East and North Africa?
- How does the EU deal with issues related to energy security?
- How can the EU handle a new global role after the financial crisis?
- What is the role of small states in shaping the EU and its policies?
NUPI has been a member of the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) since November 2015. TEPSA is the first transeuropean research network. Click here for more information about TEPSA.
News about the eu
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The crises threatening the EU today
5 Mar 2021Corona crisis, legitimization crisis and climate crisis. These are merely a few of the obstacles currently facing the EU. How is it coping? And where will the EU find itself in 2025? EU crisis management is in focus in a new book by Prof. Marianne Riddervold (NUPI and HINN)...
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NUPI replaces NRK P2's 'Ekko' this week
7 Dec 2020NUPI has produced ten hours of high quality radio about foreign policy and international relations. The programs will air on NRK P2 during week 50, Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 11.00. Tune in!
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Book launch: EEA and the alternatives – what about NOREXIT?
9 Nov 2020What are the alternatives to the EEA Agreement? What happens if Norway joins the EU, or if the EEA is terminated? A new book edited by Arne Melchior and Frode Nilssen looks into this.
Publications about the eu
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Publication
: Policy Brief
The European Maritime Security and Defence Policy Architecture: Implications for Norway
2021Maritime security is high on the international and European security agenda, hence a number of new initiatives and actions have developed within the EU, NATO and through bilateral/minilateral agreements. To increase the common capabilities of Europe and secure more targeted responses, there is a need...- Ruxandra-Laura Bosilca
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Publication
: Policy Brief
European defence beyond institutional boundaries: Improved European defence through flexibility, differentiation and coordination
As a response to the changing geopolitical situation, initiatives aimed to strengthen European defence have been taken in NATO, in the EU, but also bi- and multilaterally between EU member states and associated non-members, such as Norway. This policy brief argues that all these processes must be taken... -
Publication
: Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Securitisation of the EU approach to the Western Balkans: from conflict transformation to crisis management.
This chapter analyses the EU’s crisis response in the Western Balkans through the lens of EULEX. By exploring how those immediately responsible for mandate execution and those directly affected by its outcomes perceive EULEX, we discover gaps that highlight the pitfalls of direct and ingrained political...
Research projects about the eu
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Research project
Scandinavia as an arena for Chinese economic statecraft
2021 - 2022 (Ongoing)China's utilisation of economic statecraft as a foreign policy tool challenges the accustomed distinction between Norwegian business policies, and Norwegian security policy. This opens for a novel...
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Photograph: NTB Scanpix
Research project
Understanding and Strenthening EU Foreign & Security Poliocy in a Complex and Contested World (JOINT)
2021 (Ongoing)The JOINT project analyses these dynamics while addressing the question of how the EU and its member states can make their foreign and security policy structures more joined-up and sustainable.
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Research project
A new European security and defence architecture in the making What does it look like and what are the implications for Norway? (EURODEFENCE)
2021 - 2024 (Ongoing)This project will study the implications of the new European defence initiatives for Norway particularly, as an allied and closely associated non-member of the EU. Despite the incremental nature of the...