They know what they're talking about. The debate on the European Constitution tends to ignore the defence plank, even though progress in this field is particularly significant, and I'm no exception. Why? I feel that most commentators feel a certain embarrassment, a kind of psychological awkwardness, in homing in on military issues, because on first sight they may seem to contradict the primary objective of European construction, which was the reconciliation of countries which had just been torn apart by the worst war of all time, putting an end for ever to conflicts in Europe, definitive peace. This is intellectually absurd, because it is patently obvious that ESDP (European Security and Defence Policy) has nothing to do with military aggression, or with ambitions for traditional forms of power. And yet, reservations exist. And so I'm grabbing the opportunity to use not my own words, but those of Luc Frieden, president in exercise of the Council of the EU competent in this field, and of Michel Barnier, who, before becoming the French foreign minister, chaired the work of the Convention on the ESDP plank of the Constitution, in his capacity as European Commissioner.
The how and the why. Luc Frieden described the objectives and the functioning of the ESDP before chairing the ad hoc European ministerial meeting on Monday, and I would like to reproduce the main thrust of what he said (as published in “La Voix du Luxembourg” (our translation)): “The EU needs arms not to make war, but to prevent or manage international crisis situations. It has been at peace for 60 years thanks to European integration, but this is not enough: it must also ensure that the rest of the world can live in peace. Pooling our military means has no other aim than greater efficiency in the management of international crises. Taking over from NATO in Bosnia, Europe is conducting one single major military operation involving almost 8,000 soldiers. Its tasks are to pave the way for a return to the rule of law via training missions and to help certain countries to implement democratic reforms. As we speak, ESDP is carrying out this kind of mission in Georgia and Iraq, in different contexts.
“It is, moreover, quite normal to make use of armies' enormous logistical resources for situations other than conflicts, such as natural disasters like the tsunami of last December. The objective is not to replace humanitarian action, but to make a contribution which may be decisive, because large-scale means can be mobilised swiftly and effectively”.
On the state of implementation of the planned resources, Mr Frieden pointed out: “the EU wants more crisis-management capability. It wants to be able to deploy small, efficient groups anywhere, within a fortnight of the political decision to intervene. From January 2006, the EU will have multinational battle groups of 1,500 men and women who are able to intervene very quickly. In 2010, there will be 13 of these groups. One day, the EU will have all the elements it needs for a European army. There is already a hardcore, Eurocorps, with a permanent mixed staff: five countries- Germany, France, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg- comprise it. Eurocorps has just successfully carried out an operation in Afghanistan. Obviously, the Member States retain their prerogative and their own army”.
The Constitution's contribution. Michel Barnier summarised what the Constitution will contribute for the French newspaper La Tribune (again, our translation): “The objective is that those who want to work for the security and defence of the continent can do so together within a Union context. If the EU is not allowed to tackle defence issues as such, then certain do so outside the Union context, with the risks this will entail for the political union of the continent. The Constitution brings, for the first time, assistance and solidarity clauses guaranteeing each Member State the mobilisation of the EU in case of terrorist attack or threat. For the first time, the EU will be represented by a Foreign Minister competent for security and defence issues. For the first time, the EU has a European Armaments Agency, which will boost its capacity to act by developing the technological and industrial cornerstones of its defence. For the first time, such European countries as want to will be able to go further forward, and more quickly, by implementing specific cooperation actions”. And all of this will, at all times, be compatible with NATO involvement. The Constitution makes Defence Europe operational, by providing the EU with the resources it needs to play its part beyond its own boundaries. Without military resources, Mr Barnier pointed out, the EU was unable to prevent three wars on its doorstep, in the Balkans, which left 250,000 dead. With the Constitution, it will be. (F.R.)