On Wednesday 28 February, the European Parliament called for the appointment of a Commissioner for the Defence Union in the next Commission, “who is responsible for the finalisation of a true European Defence Union and all defence-related matters, including CSDP, following a clear division of tasks with the VP/HR”.
During the vote on the report by Sven Mikser (S&D, Estonian) on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy - Annual Report 2023, which they adopted by 350 votes to 91 with 96 abstentions - MEPs were divided on this issue. 371 MEPs - mainly from the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and the Greens/EFA - voted in favour of the appointment, while 171 voted against, including MEPs from the ECR, ID and The Left.
While the idea of such a Commissioner is supported by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, “to set up a Commissioner of Defence, the treaties would have to be changed. This is obviously not feasible as things stand”, Thierry Breton told a group of journalists, including EUROPE. “If the question is that of a Defence Industry Commissioner, it seems to me that one already exists”, in his person, he added.
In the report, MEPs also call for Parliament to have a fully-fledged Committee on Security and Defence.
MEPs underline the willingness of Member States to assume greater responsibility for European security by strengthening the defence capabilities of Member States and the EU.
In their view, the ‘Strategic Compass’ needs to be updated to incorporate the lessons learned from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and in the light of recent events in the Middle East. MEPs are calling for the full implementation of the ‘Strategic Compass’ to be sped up through a massive reinforcement of European military cooperation at industrial and armed forces levels, “in order to make the European Union a stronger and more capable security provider which is interoperable and complementary with NATO”.
For Parliament, Member States must increase and guarantee sustainable levels of defence spending in order to adapt to the current geopolitical situation.
MEPs also stress the importance of developing security and defence dialogues with partners around the world.
Turning to the situation in Ukraine, MEPs call for Kyiv to be provided with the defence capabilities it needs.
The report also looks at strengthening the fight against hybrid threats, including cyber attacks and FIMI activities (disinformation, manipulation of information from outside, etc.), China, tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia, the Balkan countries, the Middle East, the Sahel, Turkey and the Arctic.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/b2n (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)