Abstract
The end of the Cold War and subsequent reductions in the US and Russian nuclear arsenals have led to a situation where concerns about nuclear weapons have largely vanished from the public mindset and the political agenda. The vision of a world free of nuclear weapons, as publicly expressed by US President Barack Obama in 2009; Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme; and concerns over nuclear proliferation have brought the issue back onto the agenda. On closer inspection it becomes apparent that Europe, and especially the European Union, lacks a nuclear strategy for the twenty-first century. The legitimate use of nuclear weapons as well as arms controls are issues which have a predominant place in the current discussion regarding the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. While multilateralism is of utmost importance, it should not be forgotten that this requires Europe to agree on a common position, not only on non-proliferation but also on nuclear weapon use in general, and that this position should then serve as the basis for talks with our key ally, the US. It is important to realize that non-proliferation cannot be achieved by a handful of countries, but requires dedication and cooperation from as many countries as possible.
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