On Wednesday 8 June, MEPs adopted recommendations to the EU High Representative on the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy following Russia’s aggression against Ukraine by 438 votes to 65 with 94 abstentions.
MEPs call for real progress on foreign policy and defence cooperation at EU level and “to make rapid progress in building a defence union with more ambitious short, medium and long-term objectives, implementing the concrete actions set out in the 'Strategic Compass’”, including the rapid deployment capability.
They also believe that the EU’s strategic autonomy must be a primary objective of the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy and that, in order to achieve this autonomy, there is an urgent need, in particular, to invest in and develop credible military capabilities for an enhanced European defence system. The European Parliament encourages EU Member States to increase their defence budgets and investment.
According to the European Parliament, it must be ensured that the ‘Strategic Compass’ and NATO’s Strategic Concept are aligned and lead to increasing strategic complementarity. It also argues for increased EU cooperation with like-minded partners, particularly with NATO’s transatlantic allies, and calls for the UK to be brought into a framework of common defence and foreign policy cooperation.
Demands already made on several occasions, such as the end of unanimity in foreign policy or a real council of defence ministers, are also mentioned.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/1zk (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)