Abstract

This chapter sets out the EU’s approach to non-proliferation based upon a cooperative strategy embedded under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The chapter will then look in more detail at the so-called non-proliferation clauses which illustrate how the EU is trying to combine political cooperation with economic incentives to achieve its non-proliferation objectives. The paper argues that the EU has demonstrated a real potential to promote non-proliferation through bilateral economic agreements and promoting universal membership of multilateral non-proliferation regimes. However, for the EU to enhance its effectiveness in this area it will have to take full advantage of the innovations in the Lisbon Treaty and engage with key actors (including through strategic partnerships and multilateral regimes) in pressing ahead with important EU foreign policy matters such as non-proliferation and disarmament.