On Monday 17 June, Member States' Foreign Ministers welcomed the European Union's progress in the field of the Common Security and Defence Policy, in conclusions adopted during a discussion with their defence counterparts on the global strategy launched in June 2016.
“Since the launch of the Global Strategy, the EU has made unprecedented progress in the field of security and defence”, the EU Council welcomed, noting “substantial progress”. “The EU Council stresses the need to maintain the momentum created through the constant mobilisation of Member States and EU institutions”, the text adds, calling for a coherent implementation of the measures deployed.
According to the ministers, “by meeting Europe's current and future security and defence needs, the EU is strengthening its capacity to act as a security provider, its strategic autonomy and its ability to cooperate with its partners”. They therefore recommend that strategic reflection be pursued “with a view to assuming greater responsibility for European security with partners whenever possible and autonomously when necessary”.
The EU Council considers that a common assessment of threats and challenges should be carried out, ensuring that adequate resources are made available in order to increase the capabilities required to implement EU decisions in an effective and coherent manner and to develop a more “integrated, sustainable, innovative and competitive” European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) throughout the Union, which remains open to cooperation.
The conclusions – 19 pages, 56 paragraphs – review the different elements of CSDP and the EU's cooperation with regional and international organisations. In particular, the conclusions focus on cooperation with NATO; the Alliance is mentioned 24 times.
Appointment scheduled for November
The ministers will also meet in November 2019. Encouraging Member States to submit together, “by 31 July 2019 at the latest”, new project proposals to be developed within the framework of permanent structured cooperation (PESCO), the EU Council states that the objective is for the new projects to be adopted next November. These projects should focus on developing defence capabilities and improving the operational readiness of forces, the EU Council adds. As discussions on the participation of third countries stall, the Council “with interest” looks forward to the adoption as soon as possible of a Council Decision establishing the general conditions under which non-Member States could be invited.
The EU Council will also return in November to the Civil CSDP Pact in order to “provide political guidance and direction on the way forward”. It will also discuss, on that date, progress made in terms of coherence between EU initiatives and on strengthening coordination between the relevant EU actors, “with a view to improving the effectiveness and results of defence cooperation in order to strengthen European capabilities”.
The conclusions also include conclusions on CSDP missions and operations, military mobility, the European Defence Fund, cybernetics and the fight against climate change and energy challenges.
See the conclusions: https://bit.ly/2wYi8Bh (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)