The provision of security in the EU: an interdisciplinary analysis of security as a public good in the era of transnational threats

This paper examines security as a public good within the context of its provision at the European Union level, analysing its theoretical, economic, and institutional dimensions.It is grounded in the concept of non-excludability and non-rivalry of public goods and demonstrates that modern security threats-ranging from hybrid threats, terrorism, organised crime, and pandemics, to cyberattacks-transcend national state borders, thereby undermining traditional state-centric models of security provision.The author employs an interdisciplinary research approach, combining analytical methods from economics, political science, European studies, and security studies, which allows for a comprehensive capture of the multi-level nature of security provision as a public good.The analysis highlights that the EU is gradually assuming the role of a security provider through common policies, mechanisms, and instruments, while identifying fundamental obstacles, particularly in the form of fragmented competences, uneven Member State contributions, and inadequate financing.Empirical examples, such as the joint responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian aggression against Ukraine, confirm the growing necessity for coordinated, collective solutions.The article concludes that, given the deterioration of the regional and global security environment and the deepening of instability and uncertainty, the strengthening of European cooperation, solidarity, and financing is essential for the sustainable provision of security as one of the key European public goods.