In a joint declaration signed in Paris on Monday 24 March, the European liberal family pledged to defend “liberal democracy” throughout the world as the system of government best placed to promote peace, multilateralism, fundamental rights and economic and social progress, and to provide it with the means to defend itself against autocratic and reactionary excesses.
Europe must become “the arsenal of democracy”, say the Liberals, referring to a quote from US President Franklin Roosevelt, who advocated this role for the United States as early as 1940. “The current security environment and the multiple, complex and evolving security threats require Member States [of the European Union] to spend at least 3% of their GDP on defence”, they add. In their view, this increase is “crucial” to ensuring collective sovereignty and security. The Liberals also welcome French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to “discuss extending France’s nuclear deterrent to other European countries”.
The rearmament of EU countries will make it possible to fulfil the commitment to support Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, emphasise the signatories of the declaration. In particular, they recommend “establishing legal and financial mechanisms to use frozen Russian public assets” to help Ukraine defend itself and rebuild its infrastructure, and to compensate the victims of Russian military aggression. They also “wholeheartedly support the acceleration of negotiations for Ukraine’s accession to the EU”.
A summit of the European liberal family will take place next summer.
See the Paris Declaration: https://aeur.eu/f/g3t (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)