NATO's purpose was to guard against the possibility of a Soviet aggression. It was a single purpose, and it was easy to comprehend. Today, the security environment has fundamentally changed, and with it the character of institutions. Integration has become the defining characteristic of our political environment. It is a process that is not confined to the level of economics alone.
Integration also encompasses security.
In this new environment, the role of institutions is also changing. Rather than focussing on one single task, as they did in the past, institutions have become multi-purpose instruments. Rather than being narrow and defensive, they have become outward-looking and proactive. Yet they are nonetheless shaped by the same factors. Like NATO, the EU has special programmes for Russia and Ukraine.