On the eve of the European Commission’s presentation of its new draft Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) (see separate news item), the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called for security and defence not to be neglected.
“The economic recovery will require a lot of resources, but this should not be at the expense of our security”, he told a hearing of the European Parliament’s Security and Defence Subcommittee on Tuesday 26 May.
The security environment is “becoming less and less secure”, and “if we want to stay safe, we cannot afford to lower the level of ambition for our security and defence”, he explained, adding that investing in defence would help the economic recovery.
European initiatives must therefore be adequately funded, in particular for the European Defence Fund. “Ensuring an adequate level of resources will be essential”, Borrell said.
He also highlighted military mobility, “which must remain at the top of our agenda”, hoping that this too will be taken into account in the MFF. While the Commission’s original proposal was €6 billion, funding for military mobility had simply disappeared from the last proposal.
Finally, Mr Borrell recalled the importance of the European Peace Facility, which should make it possible to provide “adequate equipment” to partner countries, particularly in Africa. While the original target was for a €10 billion fund, the Commission’s latest proposal reduced it to €4.5 billion. “The Sahel remains a long-term priority for the EU”, the High Representative stressed when asked about the EU’s CSDP missions.
New Force Commander for Irini
Mr Borrell also spoke at length about the EUNAVFOR Med Irini mission. He announced that the force commander had “finally been appointed last Friday”. It is reportedly Italian Rear Admiral Ettore Socci, who was the force commander for Operation EUNAVFOR Med Sophia. The Member States’ ambassadors to the EU are expected to authorise the launch of the written procedure on Wednesday for the decision to be formally adopted.
And while Malta has threatened to veto funding for the mission if the country does not receive help to cope with an influx of migrants, Borrell said Irini is sufficiently funded for the next 3 months (see EUROPE 12484/5). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)