Brussels, 24/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Council on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 June will not give much room to defence issues, but it is expected to give its green light for work to continue on EU-level financing for research linked to the common security and defence policy (CSDP) - with the final objective of ensuring that such financing is fully integrated in the next multiannual financial framework and given adequate funds.
Reduced to a few lines to be inserted in the Security chapter of the summit's draft conclusions, defence issues will only therefore confirm certain approaches that were set out at the European Council of December 2013, avoiding issues that inflame or require long debates.
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini is expected to be entrusted with the mandate to propose a review of the EU's security strategy in June 2016, with foreign policy included in this for the first time.
Cooperation between the EU and NATO is also among the issues to be addressed, especially from the angle of the so-called “hybrid” war led by the Russian Federation and, to a lesser extent, by Islamic State in the Middle East. The Council's conclusions are nevertheless expected to refer to this in a very general way, being limited to stating the need for the EU to step up its various partnerships (NATO, the United Nations, the OSCE, the African Union) and to mobilise the EU's instruments to respond.
The heads of state and government are also expected to agree to enough financing being provided in the EU budget for the preparatory action on CSDP-related research. No actual amount will be mentioned, but this should be in the order of €50 million for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. The conclusions should also clearly establish the link with a future programme in the multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, where the amount would be more substantial.
In its conclusions, the European Council is also expected to state the need to support partner countries so as to prevent conflicts, through strengthening their capabilities. The objective of making cooperation more systematic between the member states is also expected to be mentioned, so as to bridge the gaps in critical defence capabilities with European funding. (Jan Kordys)