SAfE Platform SAfE Latest Articles Human Security for the EU external action? | Human Security for the EU external action? |
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by Webeehive.com
The recent natural disasters occurred in
Human security can be approached either by a narrow ESDP perspective or by one necessarily including the human dimension and basic human rights. Acknowledging the need to efficiently address human security issues, the latter is the approach adopted by the European Commission.
Aiming at embracing a "mainstreaming" human security policy , the EU identifies 3 dimensions related to human security, where the first and the second one refer to protection of human beings and the third one to empowerment:
1. Freedom from fear, which is mainly related to physical threats;
2. Freedom from want which refers to need;
3. Freedom of expression and to take action.
This EU awareness explains why humanitarian aid is so peculiar within the external actions of the European Union. As a matter of fact, the allocation of EU millions' funds makes the EU the first donor worldwide in assistance to troubled countries. Two main reasons support these EU actions: the presence of vulnerable groups, such as refugees; and the urgency of the reaction because of the rapid deterioration of the situation.
However, considering the complexity of the challenges, the EU effectiveness in providing action encounters several downfalls. Its internal diversity at political and cultural levels and a multi institutional structure not surprisingly slows EU procedures and decision making processes. Moreover, the lack of coordination hampers the consistency and the coherence of the EU (expensive) external actions.
One possibility to overcome this situation could be building a “pre-crisis” permanent mechanism of coordination among the EU institutions and member states. This could probably create a blueprint that can be rapidly activated and implemented in case of urgency.
Quoting a wise analyst - "there are too many good cooks in the same kitchen" – hopefully the announced restructuring of the High Representative's role
will bring more efficiency and coherence.
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