Strasbourg, 17/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - A more robust European Security and Defence Policy as part of a “Defence and Security Union”: that is what the European Parliament would like to see. On 16 November, the EP adopted by a large majority (414 for, 117 against, with 12 abstentions) the report by German Christian Democrat Karl vonWogau on the implementation of the European Security Strategy (ESS), on the sidelines of the plenary session in Strasbourg.
While the ESS is undeniably a excellent analysis of the threats and challenges to the EU in the 21st century, the EP nonetheless felt that, since its adoption in 2003, the geopolitical situation had evolved, making revision necessary in 2008, at the latest, to include other challenges, like growing energy competition, natural disasters and the security of the EU's external borders. MEPs also called for a regular 5-yearly review of the strategy thereafter, including a debate in the EP and national parliaments.
Given the limited resources allocated to the ESDP, the EU should concentrate its efforts on its geographical neighbourhood, the Balkans, without however, neglecting the other regions of the world, said the EP. It must also be ready to act before crises break out, through multilateralism, and better coordination of the civil and military parts of the ESDP. The EP recommended increasing the status of the EU unit for civilian-military operations to the level of command unit.
To improve European disaster response, the EP stressed the need to fill the gaps in the area of strategic transport and called on the Council to seriously consider the proposals of the Barnier report of May 2006, in particular for the establishment of a civil defence force and an informal European civil security Council, an integrated European approach to anticipate crises, pooling existing national resources and setting up European consulates.
In terms of capabilities, and apart from efforts made in strategic transport, the EP highlighted the gaps in terms of telecommunications and intelligence. It considered that EU armed tactical groups being formed must have harmonised, or at least compatible, equipment. In addition, it said the next generation of satellite intelligence systems should be part of a European system.
The EP felt that the exemption allowed for in Article 296 of the treaty (allowing exemptions to Community rules on State aid for the purchase of some armaments) must not prevent Community institutions from legislating on the development of a European market in defence equipment. Parliament said it was essential to facilitate intra-Community trade, while guaranteeing a high level of protection in relation to the exterior.
Highlighting the gaps in the political procedure preceding the decision to deploy an ESDP mission, the EP called on the Council to re-examine the various stages of this procedure and wanted above all to be consulted before sending any military mission in which the EU was taking part. It also recommended a new budgetary methodology to increase transparency in expenditure related to the ESDP, which, it felt, was not sufficiently under its control.
The EP felt that the EU was moving towards a “Defence and Security Union” and argued, in addition to the creation of a European equipment market or a joint intelligence system, for a standing naval force in the Mediterranean, including a coastguard service, a Deputy European Foreign Minister in charge of the ESDP and adequate Parliamentary control to be put in place. (dt)