Brussels, 15/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton identified four priority sectors - including drones and cyber-defence - to strengthen European defence, in a report published on Tuesday 15 October.
Ashton has tabled these proposals ahead of the upcoming European Council on 19-20 December, which will focus on security and defence in a context of a general reduction in military budgets.
In Ashton's report on the common security and defence policy (CSDP), she states that cooperation has become essential if the European Union wants to be able to respond quickly to security challenges - cyber-security, space, energy, maritime and border security. In order to obtain tangible progress at the summit in December, four priorities have been highlighted in the report. One of these is the development of MALE (medium altitude, long endurance) drones, one of the most obvious shortcomings of the European defence industry. The objective is for the heads of state and government to be able to promote a European approach to develop this key capacity by 2020. Another priority is the development of a common system of satellite communication - for both civilian and military use - by 2025. European capacity is currently fragmented between 12 satellites, divided into five constellations, the operational life of which is due to come to an end between 2018 and 2025, according to the report. A common approach is also proposed in cyber-defence, but this issue is very sensitive because its concerns the heart of member states' sovereignty. The final priority is the joint acquisition of air-to-air refuelling aircraft, which European armies desperately lack. The report says that the development of such projects responds to the need to consolidate the European defence industry - a key economic sector which directly employs over 730,000 people and recorded a turnover of €172 billion in 2011. (LC/transl.fl)