EU, NATO AND GLOBAL POWER DYNAMICS: WHAT SHOULD BE IN SERBIA’S FOCUS?

Nikolić Goran (Ph.D., Research Associate, Institute of European Studies), goranvnikolic@gmail.com
Igrutinović Milan (Research Assistant, Institute of European Studies), milan.igrutinovic@ies.rs

In this paper we are concentrating on the issue of global power shifts brought on by financial crisis since 2008, its repercussions on European Union’s Common Security and Foreign Policy and its relation to NATO’s position of ultimate security underwriter in Europe. This relation is burdened with defense budget cuts in majority of EU countries, stability of European continent that pushes NATO into searching for new and unclear strategic goals within complex environment in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Then we are looking at what aspects of this relation should Serbia put emphasis on in the process of EU accession which will last at least until the end of this decade. We argue that the security cooperation offered within CFSP is more suitable for Serbia’s needs, capabilities and social specifics than NATO’s focus on far-reaching goals outside Europe.

Keywords: EU, NATO, CFSP, crisis, economy, Serbia