Brussels, 09/02/2006 (Agence Europe) -Political decision-makers and analysts in Europe are observing that NATO is “pinching” the prerogatives of the European Union, especially in the civil-military field. Such a change should compel the European Union to pursue the development of its defence policy in order to remain an actor in the international arena, the president of the Western European Union (WEU) Assembly, Jean-Pierre Masseret, said during an interview with Atlantic News.
The way European defence policy is developing is closely linked to the evolution of NATO, which is repositioning itself on the international scene to acquire an increasingly political role with, “probably within the next two years”, the “redefinition of strategic choices in a more open political partnership and able to conduct civil-military operations which had hitherto been the prerogative of the European Union”, commented Mr Masseret. Also, within twenty to thirty years, “the world will be moving towards the Pacific”. The EU must therefore work to develop ESDP by preparing itself for any eventuality “including the worst: that is, that the United States, for its own vital interests, lets go the hand of its little European brother” to deal with its own specific interests in the Pacific. In theory, the EU has given itself the structures to develop its own defence policy, Mr Masseret said, while posing the problem of capabilities. He declared that, “The European Defence Agency is a marvellous thing on paper - it is really the central structure of the mechanism that will raise capability questions without having the means”. In order to become a world player, the EU must have military might, Mr Masseret added, stressing that, in this context, one should not neglect the land army. He also noted that faced with the danger of terrorism, “it will not be the aircraft and submarines that will deal with it, and one should not, therefore, forget the land army when giving preference to the most sophisticated weapons”. During his mandate, the WEU Assembly president will therefore make it a point of honour to ensure that what is achieved corresponds well and truly to what is said and that parliamentarians may carry out their work of monitoring. “Our executives must accept the idea that the members of national parliaments are not a spoke in the wheel but players”, Mr Masseret said. He will therefore be seeking to have the WEU Assembly recognise the need for support from the national parliaments by carrying out “direct diplomacy” in the capitals, especially in London and Berlin.