Abstract
Since the end of the Cold War, the nature and origins of threats on Europe have changed. This evolution of repartition of powers in the world led some countries to develop their defence and military capabilities, whether it concerns missiles, biological or chemical weapons, or the ultimate military achievement, nuclear weapons. These countries are considered proliferant, although the definition of proliferation remains different from one country to another. We consider in this paper, that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) consists in the acquisition of ballistic missiles (by purchasing or developing them), the establishment of nuclear programmes for military purposes, and the development of biological and chemical weapons. To what extent is European Union concerned? What are the tools at the disposal of the EU, and especially the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)? The territorial security, and specially, when it comes to military matters, is primarily a state concern. But in the European Union, member states have pooled their powers and concerns, which allow not only common actions but also common worries.
