On Thursday 28 June, the heads of state and government called for further measures to strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy, while complementing and strengthening the activities of NATO.
"On this sovereign Europe of defence, things are moving forwards and over the past year in an unprecedented way, if I look at the previous five decades", France's President Emmanuel Macron stated.
In their conclusions, the leaders scan many security and defence files. The European Council thus "calls for the fulfilment of the PESCO (permanent structured cooperation) commitments and the further development of the initial projects and the institutional framework, in a way that is fully consistent with the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence and the revised Capability Development Plan". It asks the ministers to decide on the conditions for third state participation in PESCO projects.
The leaders also call for the swift implementation of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and for further progress on the European Defence Fund both in its research and capability windows. An agreement will have to be obtained on the civilian CSDP Compact "by the end of this year", which will provide a new EU framework for civilian crisis management and civilian CSDP missions, "with ambitious commitments at EU and national levels", the leaders state (see EUROPE 12028).
Hailing the progress achieved in terms of military mobility, the European Council "calls on member states to standardise rules and regulations by 2024" (see EUROPE 12048).
According to the European Council, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission will have to present, in cooperation with the member states, "an action plan by December 2018 with specific proposals for a coordinated EU response to the challenge of disinformation, including appropriate mandates and sufficient resources for the relevant EEAS Strategic Communication teams" (see EUROPE 11904).
The intention of the Commission to present a legislative proposal to improve the detection and removal of content that incites hatred and to commit terrorist acts is also welcomed.
The leaders also state the need to strengthen capabilities against cybersecurity threats from outside the EU and call for increased coordination to reduce the threats from hostile intelligence activities.
The Council additionally calls for the adoption "as soon as possible" a new EU regime of restrictive measures to address the use and proliferation of chemical weapons.
In addition, the heads of state and government call for a deepening of cooperation between the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) "in full respect of the principles of inclusiveness, reciprocity and decision-making autonomy of the EU, including through a new Joint Declaration, building on the progress made in implementing the 2016 Joint Declaration and the related proposals for action". The EU and NATO have agreed on 74 common actions (see EUROPE 12044). The new joint declaration is expected to be adopted on the sidelines of the NATO summit on 11-12 July. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)