Important security policy reasons were involved when the European community was established. The purpose of founding the Coal and Steel Community in 1951 and the European Economic Community in 1957 was to preserve peace and to pre-empt crises by means of economic integration.

Later agreements have gradually resulted in the birth of the European Union, the internal market, the monetary and economic union and the common foreign and security policy. Since then, the EU has grown into a community of 25 countries, and the Union has drawn up a new Constitution to be ratified by the Member States not later than the autumn of 2006.

Security of supply matters as a whole are not a subject for Community legislation, but there are some sector specific directives
Community legislation binding the Member States and inter-governmental co-operation constitute the foundation of the EU's activities. So far, Community legislation has not covered security of supply matters in any comprehensive way, although the importance of this subject has been emphasized in the Union's strategic plans. Nevertheless, directives have been adopted in the energy sector, including those concerning stockpiling of oil. All Member States shall implement these directives in their own national legislation. Directives have also been adopted concerning the security of supply and sufficient capacity in the electricity sector. These directives will be implemented in Finland in 2005.

Certain directorates general within the EU Commission have drawn up plans for promoting the security of supply. One topical sector is health care, where common operations are relevant in the fight against chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) threats. Other highly topical areas are data communication systems and data protection. The security of supply needs a great deal of improvement in these critical areas. A procurement agency has been established for the defence industry to gradually develop good practices under its auspices for securing the supply of defence materials for the Member States.

In 2000, Finland presented a proposal for promoting the EU's common security of supply
When joining the Union in 1995, Finland drew attention to the development of the Union's common security of supply. Finland found it natural that the security of supply fall under Community competence, as it is an essential aspect of the common market's function under various crisis conditions, particularly in respect to small peripheral markets. Finland prepared an initiative for developing the Union's security of supply dimension for the European council in 2000. The Council approved the initiative and gave the Commission the mandate (Article 48) to make a detailed study of the security of supply in the EU, in co-operation with the Council Secretariat. The Commission is also to identify opportunities for co-operation in this area.

The Commission published a white paper, SEC(2002) 243, where it discussed the current state of the security of supply in the EU. However, the report did not contain any proposals. The Ministry of Trade and Industry and the National Emergency Supply Agency initiated a common study in 2003. Its objective was to update Finland's initiative and to take into account developments since the summit meeting in Nice. The study was finalized in 2004, and in 2005 decisions will be made concerning any further measures. The development of the EU's common foreign and security policy under the auspices of the new constitution will constitute a firm basis for further activities.