European military naval industry: From fragmentation to Europenization?

The paper analyzes the development and perspectives of the European military naval industry. Since the EU is increasingly engaged in maritime military operations in the framework of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), this field of industry is becoming increasingly important for the functioning of the EU as a strategic actor. Like other military industry sectors (military aeronautics and electronics, land industry), the naval military industry has undergone significant changes since the Cold War and the process of ?banalization? that has affected it. The purpose of this paper is to answer the question to what extent this field of industry is ?Europeanized?, i.e., whether we can discuss about the ?banalization? of the European naval industry, and what consequences these processes have on the national sovereignty of the EU Member States. In order to answer these questions, the paper will first consider the process of ?banalization? of the European military industry. Then, the analysis will focus on the naval military industry sector. The author highlights the fragmentation of this industry and its ?national capture?. Finally, in the third part of the paper, the perspectives of the development of this industry are discussed. It is argued that the European naval military industry is not yet ?Europeanized? and that EU member states continue to favor national producers. However, in the light of new initiatives implemented in the field of development of the EU military equipment market, the military industry as a whole, and therefore the naval military industry, is moving towards increasing homogenization and Europeanization.