Review article
THE HOUR OF EUROPE – DISCUSSION ABOUT THE POSSIBLE INTERVENTION BY THE WESTERN EUROPEAN UNION (WEU) IN THE WAR IN CROATIA IN 1991
Vladimir Filipović
; Vladimir Filipović, Ilica 181, 10000 Zagreb
Abstract
Following the example of the discussion about the possible intervention undertaken
by the Western European Union (WEU) with the aim of stopping
the war in Croatia, this work strives to show the extent to which the war in
Croatia influenced the development of the European relations and institutions,
and vice versa. The discussion was held on two occasions, end July – early
August and second half of September 1991. The advocates of such an initiative
were led by the idea of WEU military intervention which could stop the
war, strengthen the European idea, and lay the foundations for a successful
foreign and defensive politics of the future European Union during the phase
of institution-building. Besides that, the intervention would undoubtedly have
saved many lives in Croatia, and subsequently in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Reluctance and various interpretations among large European countries – not
only of the war in Croatia, but also of the European future – resulted in passivity
which played a huge role in determining the future form of European
institutions during the key period before Maastricht.
Keywords
European Union; Western European Union; common foreign and security policy; European defence; war in Croatia
Hrčak ID:
66498
URI
Publication date:
8.4.2011.
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