Portugal, which has held the Presidency of the Council of the EU since 1 January, wants to give priority to a “more operational orientation” of the EU’s global strategy, through the common European “strategic guidelines”, according to the Presidency programme.
As regards the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to ensure continuity in the implementation of the Pact’s civil CSDP commitments and to give it visibility (see EUROPE 12617/31). Lisbon also aims to promote an integrated and sustainable approach to the link between the EU’s internal and external security and defence.
Portugal also wishes to encourage reflection on the effectiveness of EU military missions and operations. The Union currently has six: EUTM Somalia, EUTM Mali and EUTM RCA, EUNAVFOR Med Irini and Atalanta and EUFOR Althea.
Strengthening the partnership between the Union and Africa in the field of security and defence, particularly in the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea, will be another Portuguese priority. This should be done, inter alia, through capacity building, in cooperation with multilateral organisations, including the United Nations. “In Lisbon in March, together with the (EU) High Representative, we will organise an EU ministerial meeting with African partner organisations on peace and security”, says the Presidency programme. More generally, Portugal wants to deepen synergies with relevant regional entities in North Africa, the Middle East and the Sahel.
With regard to defence, the Presidency wants to contribute to the deepening of European cooperation on capacity development “with a view to fostering the European defence industrial and technological base and the specific role of SMEs”. “We will propose the definition of a common approach for the European defence economy, based on an inclusive, diversified and sustainable methodology”, the Presidency explained. Lisbon advocates making the European Defence Fund operational, seeking to direct it towards the development of critical technological sectors. In April, the Presidency, together with the European Defence Agency, will organise a high-level conference in Porto on the impact of disruptive technologies on security and defence.
Portugal would also like to see the inclusion in the permanent structured cooperation framework of demanding criteria for adapting defence and security to climate change and intends to propose a road map for the adoption of measures in this area.
Maritime security will be another of the Presidency’s areas for action, with the Portuguese wanting to encourage consideration of the updating of threat assessments in relevant maritime areas “such as the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic” and the implementation of new concepts such as ‘coordinated maritime presences’ (see EUROPE 12581/19) as well as the establishment of capacity building in third countries.
“We will proceed with the development of a tool for implementing the action plan for the EU maritime security strategy”, explains the Presidency, which plans to formalise the launch of the ‘Atlantic Centre’ in the Azores in May. The Centre will conduct research on threats and problems faced by the Atlantic countries in order to develop common solutions, encourage dialogue and develop defence capabilities to enhance security in the Atlantic common area.
In the context of cooperation with NATO, the Presidency will pay particular attention to hybrid threats, cyber defence, maritime security (including strengthening partners’ capabilities), military mobility and response to complex emergencies (see EUROPE 12623/25).
Finally, the Presidency will support the working group set up by the European External Action Service to assess the response of Member States’ armed forces to the pandemic by identifying gaps, challenges, good practices and ways of improving cooperation and coordination in response to complex emergencies. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)