QUO VADIS EUROPEAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Intensive scientific research conducted in the area of defence and security suggests that the gradual deterioration of the global and regional security environment and security situation during the first two decades of the new millennium, the considerable increase in symmetric and, above all, asymmetric security threats, along with the announced shift of the United States' primary interests from Europe to the Asia-Pacific region, prompted the adoption of various measures of political, security, military, legislative and organizational nature, both at national and integration groupings level (alliances, unions, pacts, etc.). Therefore, the author, using relevant scientific research methods in the study, analyses current trends in European defence and security and the prevailing tendencies in defence spending. Simultaneously, he points out that the European Union and its Member States must respond to these circumstances and take responsibility for their defence and security, as well as for their further development in their own hands. Finally, the author, in the context of scientific research results, underlines that, in order to meet this daring goal, European countries will inevitably need to increase their defence expenditures, as they urgently have to maintain, modernize and build new appropriate military capabilities and capacities to be able to respond not only to current military and non-military threats but also to future security challenges.