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Unit 14European Union Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Policies
All chapters
  1. 1. The institutional set-up of EU policies on non-proliferation and disarmament
  2. 2. The evolution of EU policy of non-proliferation and disarmament
  3. 3. EU non-proliferation policies in detail: The fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction
  4. 4. The EU in international arms control negotiations
  5. 5. Conclusions and outlook
  6. 6. References and further readings
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The picture shows the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France. It is a modern, circular building with a glass façade that makes the building appear bright and open. Numerous flags of the member states of the European Union can be seen in front of the building, symbolising the diversity and unity of the EU.

Above: European Parliament building in Strasbourg

Kiev.Victor / Shutterstock"

European Union Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Policies

As an actor in the non-proliferation, disarmament and arms control domain, the European Union has a mixed record. On the one hand, it displays strengths in certain traditional aspects of its external relations, such as the provision of assistance and technical cooperation. On the other hand, it keeps a lower profile in politically sensitive areas such as nuclear disarmament and deterrence, where its member states remain divided. Even though the EU has strongly upgraded its profile in the field, notably in the unlikely context of the Iran nuclear crisis over the past decade, its influence there remains limited.

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Chapters

  1. 1. The institutional set-up of EU policies on non-proliferation and disarmament

  2. 2. The evolution of EU policy of non-proliferation and disarmament

  3. 3. EU non-proliferation policies in detail: The fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

  4. 4. The EU in international arms control negotiations

  5. 5. Conclusions and outlook

  6. 6. References and further readings

Learning Objectives

Learning objectives

This course unit will familiarise participants with:

  • drivers of the EU’s emergence as an actor in non-proliferation and disarmament
  • institutional machinery, competences and fields of action
  • policies and record in the field

Credits

  • Dr Clara Portela profile image

    Dr Clara Portela

    Dr Clara PORTELA teaches Political Science at the Law School of the University of Valencia, having previously worked as a research fellow with the EU Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) in Paris and Konrad Adenauer Visiting Scholar at Carleton University’s Centre for European Studies in Ottawa. Her research focuses on EU foreign policy, multilateral sanctions and arms control. She holds a PhD from the European University Institute in Florence and an MA from Freie Universität Berlin. In recognition of her work, she received the THESEUS Award for Promising Research on European Integration, and was shortlisted for the 2024 Bernard Brodie Prize. Clara Portela has been a Visiting Professor at the College of Europe, SciencesPo Paris, OSCE Academy, Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, University of Malaya and the University of Innsbruck.

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Disclosures

Content Warning

This learning unit may contain audio-visual material or texts, which may not be suitable for all audiences.

Funding

This Learning Unit was produced with financial assistance from the European Union. The contents of this Learning Unit are however the sole responsibility of the author(s) and should under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

External Links

The site may contain hyperlink text references (’Links’) to other sites that are offered by third parties. These Links are made available solely for the purpose of information and as an additional service for users. Only the respective operator is responsible for all content and statements on linked Internet sites. Therefore, PRIF cannot guarantee the correctness and accuracy or any other aspect of third party sites.

Preferred Citation

Dr Clara Portela, "European Union Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Policies" in EUNPDC eLearning, ed. Niklas Schörnig, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt. Available at https://eunpdc-elearning.netlify.app/lu-14/, last modified 5 May 2025

Editorial Note

This is a beta version of the learning unit, which is regularly optimised. Please report any factual errors or discrepancies to the publisher. (support(at)nonproliferation-elearning.eu). Please note that although the original text was written by the authors, the video production and simplifications were carried out by PRIF.

The EU Non-Proliferation and Disarmament eLearning Course aims to cover all aspects of the EU non-proliferation and disarmament agenda. It's produced by PRIF with financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of individual learning units are the sole responsibility of the respective authors and don't necessariy reflect the position of the European Union.