What is the role of the European Union in dealing with crises that go beyond the borders of the nation-state: terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts, state failure, organized crime, natural and man-made disasters? This book assesses the main challenge for the EU: the need to operate in a multidimensional setting with a wide range of actors, such as member states, national and international NGOs, and international organizations, especially NATO and the UN, as well as the wide range of activities, rules, and norms which come into play regarding these crises.