ECFR: The Nightmare Of The Dark - The Security Fears That Keep Europeans Awake At Night

European Council on Foreign Relations issued an analysis shortly after the NATO Brussels 2018 Summit on the perceived security threats by the EU. Our director Vladimír Bartovic contributed with the Czech perspective.

European Council on Foreign Relations issued an analysis shortly after the NATO Brussels 2018 Summit on the perceived security threats by the EU. What are the biggest percieved threats for each country? The threat number one named the most often was Cyber Security and the security in the close EU neighbourhood. 

Our director Vladimír Bartovic wrote a part from the perspective of Czech Republic. He mentions the gap between the Czech public and the Czech government in perceptions of security threats. Whereas the public sees migration and terrorists attacks as the most severe concern, the government is aware that the Czech Republic is neither a popular destination for migrants nor priority target for terrorists. Czech elites believe that the most important threats to their country are state collapse or civil war in the European Union’s neighbourhood (a concern stemming from its proximity to Ukraine), cyber attacks, and external meddling in domestic politics.

The Czech political establishment regards Russia and jihadists as the most threatening actors their country faces. Its view of Russia has rapidly dimmed in recent years, particularly since Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and instigation of a conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014. However, while seven of nine parties in parliament are wary of Russia and largely supportive of the EU and NATO, the extreme right and extreme left view Moscow as an ally and Washington as an enemy, demanding that the Czech Republic leave NATO.

The full publication in English is available through the PDF button on the right side of the page. You can find more information on the publication on ECFR's website.

Vladimír Bartovic
President

Expertise: EU institutional issues, Economic and Monetary Union, € and European budget, Brexit, EU foreign policy, EU enlargement with the focus on Western Balkans, Slovak foreign and domestic policy and economic issues