On Sunday 11 January, the European Commissioner for Defence, Andrius Kubilius, called for the creation of a European Security Council.
“We lack a proper united leadership platform to discuss the most important European defence issues”, he explained during a speech at the ‘Folk och Försvar - National Conference 2026” in Sweden on the theme of "Europe Under Pressure”.
In his view, greater use should be made of the experience, which he considers positive, of the informal ‘E5 plus’ platform (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom) for these strategic discussions. “It would be important to upgrade and formalise such a kind of platform into the format of a European Security Council”, stressed the Commissioner.
According to Andrius Kubilius, this Council could be made up of key permanent members and several non-permanent members, including the Member State holding the Presidency of the EU Council, as well as the Presidents of the Commission and the European Council. “And when discussing broader European security - also the United Kingdom”, he added.
"In total around 10 to 12 members, with the task to discuss the most important issues in defence, some of which I just mentioned before. And not only discussing, but also swiftly preparing important decisions”, stressed the Commissioner, saying that the Council’s first task should be to deal with Ukraine. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)