World Peace and National Security Part 4by Desislava Manova
Love, Light, Unity
European union (EU): Bringing Security, Stability, and Peace Key challenges and EU obligations Global and regional crises and developments within the EU have made new demands on the EU's external activities. The European Union faces today?s challenges and is also assuming new responsibilities. As a global actor, the EU is actively involved in many regions, in close cooperation with its partners, for example through the Instrument for Stability. Globalization has brought the world new opportunities, along with new challenges and security threats. Power balances are shifting, competition for access to vital resources is growing and we are witnessing a proliferation of weapons. Threats have become more diversified and less predictable. And hey affect Europe as well, even if most conflicts occur outside its borders. As the world's biggest donor, it is a prominent member in international organizations and a partner of regional groups. The EU, always in favor of multilateral action, promotes its fundamental values of freedom, liberty, and human dignity. The European Security Strategy (ESS) identifies five major threats (terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, regional conflicts, state failures and organized crime) and three priorities (Conflict Prevention, Rapid Response and Assistance on all stages of crisis). Security threats are not only military issues. EU assistance and policies give attention to political, economic, financial and social aspects. In addition to the traditional military resources, the EU is coordinating political, technical and financial support with civilians. The fundamental rights and needs of people are just as important as the security of states, therefore the EU supports good governance practices and attempts to lay a viable democratic, international order. Once peace is established in Europe, the major challenge is shifted to spreading it beyond the EU's borders. To meet this challenge the EU is elaborating a common foreign and security policy and a European Security and Defense Policy. Through conflict prevention, peace-keeping operations and combating terrorism the EU can act as a force for stability, cooperation and understanding in the wider world. One of the core values of the EU its founded upon is human rights. The EU strongly believes that by protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law it contributes to ensuring long-lasting stability and peace beyond its borders. Global challenges require joint efforts of key international players and increased effectiveness and coherence in cooperation among different institutional actors. Thus, the EU plays an active role in the international organizations and has established a strategic cooperation with the United Nations, OSCE and the Council of Europe. The EU has also established a number of strategic partnerships within the major regional groupings. For instance, the Africa-EU Strategic Partnership, transatlantic partnership in fight against terrorism, energy dialogue with Russia and human rights dialogue with China. The Instrument for Stability can rapidly provide EU with responses to crises around the world, ESDP civilian and military missions are contributing to peace and security in the conflict areas and election observation missions are supporting human rights and democratization. However, for me world peace can not exists until we, all human beings, do not really "fight" for it. While there is still racism, division of the people due to their race, gender or religion we can not speak about peace, not to talk about world peace. Because since there is division there is difference and where there is difference there is conflict - conflict of interests, opinions and beliefs. Therefore, for me world peace should be established and found first in our souls and minds and then to be developed and build up by associations and organizations. This is strictly a personal view that deserves the same attention and recognition as all other views!
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