The European Peace Facility - Understanding the EU's Approach to Security and Defense: Qualitative Content Analysis of the European Peace Facility and How It Aligns with the EU's Evolving Security and Defense Policy

Abstract: In the last decade, the European Union (EU) has faced several different security challenges, such as terrorist attacks, military conflicts, and a refugee crisis, threatening the safety of its citizens and interests. This has contributed to the EU's desire to improve its security and defense capacity. As part of the solution, the EU established the European Peace Facility (EPF) in 2021, which provides financial and logistical support to EU military and civilian missions and other partner operations aimed at preventing conflicts, managing crises, and promoting lasting peace. This thesis investigates the underlying theoretical motivations that led to the EPF's establishment and discusses its connection to the EU's evolving security and defense policy through qualitative content analysis of key policy documents and speeches. The findings reveal that the EU's security and defense policy encompasses elements from multiple theoretical perspectives, with the liberal perspective being the most prominent. However, recent policy documents indicate a noticeable shift towards realism, driven by the changing global security landscape. The analysis of the EPF documents demonstrates that the facility aligns with the EU's current security and defense strategy and encompasses a mixture of theoretical ideologies. Overall, the establishment of the EPF marks a significant milestone in the EU's security and defense policy as it strives to become a powerful global actor capable of defending itself. The thesis highlights the theoretical motivations, ideological shifts, and broader implications of the EPF, contributing to a better understanding of this new instrument and its significance for regional and global security.