Following the recent security disaster in Afghanistan and the ongoing refugee crisis/migrant dispute, another common EU defense concept has resurfaced. But will it really become a reality this time?
Are we at another moment when the European strategy is powerless, another turning point, and possibly another security awakening?
As Europe begins to respond to the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the EU foreign policy chief Jose Puborel once again called on EU governments on Monday (August 30) to promote European rapid reaction forces to better prepare for similar crises in the future.
“We need to learn from this experience…As Europeans, we cannot send 6,000 soldiers around Kabul Airport to protect the area. The United States has always, we have not,” Borrell said in an interview with the Italian daily Evening Post.
In early May, 14 member states, including Germany and France, Proposed such power, May use ships and airplanes to assist democratic foreign governments in need of emergency assistance.
Have you heard of it before? Yes, because this idea is not new. In 2007, the European Union established a combat readiness system composed of 1,500 people to deal with crises, but it has never been used.
One idea circulating is that these battle groups can now form the basis of the so-called “first entry force”, which is part of the new impetus to achieve more EU defense capabilities.
Other ideas, such as French-led European Intervention Initiative (E2I) or ‘Voluntary Alliance’, Incorporate a similar idea that the EU can walk alone when needed.
Four years after Donald Trump and now President Biden withdrew from chaos in Afghanistan, the image of the United States has been damaged, providing strong arguments for supporters of EU strategic autonomy.
Starting this year, the EU Joint budget for weapons development, A Military Doctrine of 2022 And for the first time detailed its military weaknesses last year.
Internal market commissioner Thierry Breton, whose portfolio includes the defense industry and aerospace, has joined the current debate and lashed out at the subject of strategic autonomy.
“We have reached a turning point. Common European defense is no longer an option. The only question is’when’,” Brittany Tweet.
His fellow Frenchman, President Emmanuel Macron, has (somewhat surprisingly) avoided making similar statements in the past few weeks, and has never missed the opportunity to do so.
But let us limit our doubts to three main issues: national hesitation, incoherent ambition, and lack of money.
This appeal for strategic autonomy, although it seems appropriate at all times, still lacks cross-European political will. This is also due to differences in the perceptions and needs of the entire group of East, West, North, and South on threats.
Before Brexit, the British went to well-known roadblocks to counter any attempt to build an “EU army.” After Brexit, misunderstandings about the EU’s common defense still exist, also because of its unclear ambitions.
For example, the EU’s rapid reaction force is not the EU military, but has strict restrictions and missions approved by member states, such as personnel evacuation, humanitarian, peacekeeping and peacekeeping missions.
However, the EU still While waiting to see how to integrate the national army meaningfully or have anything similar to the joint military doctrine, it is hard to imagine that any national government will agree to send soldiers for anything other than the national cause.
In fact, the financial firepower invested in all current EU defense programs, whether it is funding research or investing in infrastructure, proves The available budget is a drop in the bucket at best.
Summary
Only four weeks in advance German election, three main candidates meet on Sunday (August 30) Discuss the future of Europe’s largest economy. Although the most controversial issue is climate policy, there is hardly a single theme on the agenda: the European Union.
After 2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform agreement reached in June Introducing a new concept of social dimensions, it is possible in the near future to establish a third “pillar” for the EU’s agricultural subsidy program.
Geothermal British power plant finds highest lithium content in geothermal fluid, Opening up a new business model for renewable energy.
Less than a month before the German election The coal withdrawal agreed by the state in 2038 seems to be increasingly untenable. However, as voters become more concerned about the climate, leaders’ past policy choices have come back to haunt them.
Despite the health risks and lack of infrastructure, the Paris organization is still working hard Make swimming in the Seine a reality for the 2024 OlympicsReported by EURACTIV France.
European football fans want to participate in ensuring their sport is ecologically sustainable But there is no proper framework, the European Football Fan Association SD Europe stated in its sustainability report. At the same time, Germany seems to be leading the way in solving the ecological footprint of football.
Pay close attention, watch out, watch out…
- The Judicial and Internal Affairs Committee discusses the situation in Afghanistan.
Views are author’s
[Edited by Benjamin Fox/Zoran Radosavljevic]
