On Wednesday 20 January, the European Parliament adopted the annual reports 2020 by David McAllister (EPP, Germany) on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and Sven Mikser (S&D, Estonia) on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
In adopting Mr McAllister’s report (340 votes in favour, 100 against and 245 abstentions), MEPs stress that the Covid-19 pandemic is a warning signal that, if the Union wants to strengthen its leadership role on the international stage, it needs “a stronger, more autonomous, more united and assertive foreign and security policy.” “In order to achieve this, the EU first has to successfully assist its partners in the immediate neighbourhood”, say MEPs, who underline “the EU’s role as a reliable partner worldwide, [...] an actor of reference for conflict resolution and mediation, [... and] as a leading promoter of sustainable development and a major contributor to the multilateral framework”.
MEPs also call for “close” collaboration between the EU and its allies and the establishment of more strategic cooperation with third countries “based on trust and mutual benefit”.
MEPs are once again pushing for the abandonment of unanimity in favour of qualified majority voting in foreign policy, at least for decisions relating to human rights and sanctions, believing that this would be a “concrete means by which to strengthen the EU’s influence on the global scene”.
They also want a European Security Council, “as it is high time to formally establish the effective formats and institutions to improve the coherence and influence of the EU’s foreign and security policy”.
Parliament also believes that the EU has a responsibility to build up its strategic autonomy in matters of common diplomacy, security and defence and in economic, health and trade issues.
MEPs also call for a review of the Union’s overall strategy “in order to draw the lessons from the new geopolitical dynamics, current threats including the Covid-19 pandemic and expected upcoming challenges, and to reassess the goals and means of the CFSP”.
Similarly, Mr Mikser’s report adopted by MEPs (387 votes in favour, 180 against and 119 abstentions) welcomes the Union’s determination to strengthen its global presence and “its ability to act as a global security promoter and provider”. They welcome the work on the strategic compass, hoping that it will pave the way for a more independent operational capacity, a more harmonised strategic culture and thereby facilitate EU decision-making.
Taking the view that CSDP was based primarily on the Union’s capacity to deploy civilian and military missions and operations, Parliament stresses the importance of strengthening these missions and operations in terms of human resources and mandates. It also calls for the further development and strengthening of the Union’s civilian and military decision-making and command and control structures, as well as the full implementation of the pact in the field of civilian CSDP by early summer 2023.
Parliament also calls, inter alia, for the rapid adoption and implementation of the European Peace Facility and the European Defence Fund and stresses the importance of making progress on permanent structured cooperation and military mobility.
Other priorities include strengthening cooperation with strategic partners, combating hybrid threats and setting an ambitious EU agenda for global arms control, non-proliferation and disarmament.
See Mr McAllister’s report: http://bit.ly/3sKkW0o and Mr Mikser’s report: http://bit.ly/3iBNXqz (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)