Since 2003, the European Union has pointed out that it has become an essential actor within the fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. And that is clearly shown by the fact that the Council has adopted a common position on the universalization and reinforcement of multilateral agreements in the field of non-proliferation and by the Strategy against WMD proliferation. And its involvement in managing the Iranian crisis also. However for Europe the nuclear dimension does not only comprise proliferation and reinforcement of the preventive regime. Two European states have a deterrence capacity; others shelter American non-strategic nuclear weapons and some work for disarmament. These significant issues are the subject of this book. The first part of the book concerns certain aspects of nuclear deterrence. The second part focuses on disarmament. The third part discusses the consequences of nuclear proliferation for EU security. The final part refers to the more general issue of nonproliferation. This collective book comprises the revised versions of papers first presented at the seminar held in Aix-en-Provence on 14 and 15 June 2007. It was organised by the Centre d'Études et de Recherches Internationales et Communautaires with the support of the Directorate for Strategic Affairs (French Ministry of Defence) and the Institute of Higher National Defence Studies and it was financed by the European Commission. This meeting gave us the opportunity to bring together young European and international experts, both from the academic and professional fields. Its objective is to identify and discuss themes that are likely to be the most significant topics in the field of Europe and nuclear weapons.

Grégory Boutherin, PhD in Law, is officer in the French Air Force, Research Center of the French Air Force (CReA - Salon de Provence), EOAA, and research associate at the Centre d'Études et de Recherches Internationales et Communautaires (CERIC).