Brussels, 08/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP, is presenting his paper on a European security strategy, still to be approved by the European Council in Brussels, to the foreign ministers of the EU and acceding countries on Tuesday. The text is along the lines of the document presented to the European Council of Thessaloniki on 19 and 20 June - same structure, concept and even analysis - and was the subject of broad consultation by EU ministers but also by intellectuals, who contributed to it and gave it their support. The document, of a resolutely general tone, lists the challenges and dangers facing the EU and grants a key place to traditional concerns (human rights, good governance). It also stresses the importance of regional conflicts and includes the "Israeli-Arab conflict" at the heart of the other conflicts in the Middle East (such as Iraq). Finally, it insists on the importance of the EU's pre-emptive commitment and "effective multilateralism", mainly counting on the trans-Atlantic relationship.
In the first part, the document lists the global challenges (both old and new) facing the EU (conflicts, poverty, epidemics, economic collapse) as well as the main threats for security: (1) terrorism for which the EU is both the "target and the terrain for operations" hence the need for concerted European action; (2) proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) which is "potentially the most significant threat of all". The document notes a "WMD race" in the Middle East especially and sounds the alarm in the case where terrorists acquire WMD; (3) regional conflicts which arise frequently (Kashmir, Great Lakes, Korean Peninsula, Middle East); (4) the decay of States (Somalia, Liberia, Afghanistan) which may - but not necessarily - be associated with organised crime; (5) organised crime (drug and arms trafficking and the trade in women, illegal immigration), which may be linked to terrorism and for which the EU is a "prime target" - and which can sometimes dominate a State. "Maritime piracy is a new dimension of organised crime", the document notes, concluding: "a combination of all these elements together (…) could expose us to an extremely serious threat".
The second part of the document sets out the three strategic objectives of the EU: - Facing up to the threats as it did after the attacks on 11 September (adoption of the European arrest warrant, measures against the funding of terrorism, judicial cooperation agreement with the United States), against the proliferation of weapons and in favour of settling regional conflicts (mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo). The EU must also be able to face up to distant threats and prevent conflicts and threats by using every means at its disposal: military, police, judiciary, economic, humanitarian, diplomatic, civilian; - building security in its neighbourhood, mainly to the East and in the Mediterranean Basin. Priorities are the countries of the Balkans and the Southern Caucasus, as well as the Middle East. The document notes that a strategic priority for Europe is the settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict. If there is no such settlement, there is hardly any chance of resolving the other problems in the Middle East, it states, adding that "a broader commitment with the Arab world should also be envisaged"; - building a stronger international society by strengthening the UN and ensuring respect of international rules, by promoting a larger number of members to the institutions (such as the WTO), tabling on transatlantic relations (NATO), propagating good governance, supporting economic and social reforms, fighting corruption, adopting trade and development policies, and assisting countries which are outlawed from the international community.
The third part lists the political implications of these three objectives for the EU. The EU must: (1) be more active. "We must develop our own strategic culture to promote upstream, rapid and, if necessary, robust intervention", the document states. The EU must also be able to conduct several operations at the same time, to conceive operations that call upon civilian and military capabilities and strengthen its cooperation with the UN. Preventive cooperation is needed to detect serious situations before such situations deteriorate. (2) develop its capabilities (more resources, better use of existing resources, recourse to pooling and the sharing of capabilities, strengthening civilian and diplomatic capacities, allowing common confrontation of threats, enlarging the range of missions) and, where necessary, use the permanent EU/NATO (Berlin +) arrangements which "reflect our common determination to face up to the challenges of the new century"; (3) be more coherent by grouping the means and instruments available, and also in the context of external activities of the various Member States; (4) cooperate with its partners and mainly with a strategic partner such as the United States. The EU must also have closer relations with Russia and establish strategic partnerships with Japan, China, Canada and India.