Revista UNISCI (Oct 2020)

Is the “show-the-flag” strategy relevant for Visegrad countries in securing the EU?

  • Hana N. Hlaváčková

DOI
https://doi.org/10.31439/UNISCI-103
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 54
pp. 223 – 246

Abstract

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The European security environment has changed and the EU has become more independent in its security policy. New threats faced by the EU in 2014 (the migration crises) and other remaining threats (such as terrorism, organised crime, piracy) need solving by its greater involvement in the region. One problem that the EU tries to solve is the inconsistency of member states in security issues. In this article, we focus on the V4 group and their opinions towards EU security. This article examines strategies adopted by small/new EU member states to protect European borders and European territories and regions outside the EU that affect their security. For a long time, the V4 countries only participated sporadically in EU missions. The article shows what changes took place and what were the reasons for the decision to participate or not in the EU activities. The article raises the question of whether the show-the-flag strategy adopted by the V4 countries and their participation in EU missions is relevant for ensuring European security nowadays.

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