Implementation of the common security and defence policy (based on the annual report from the Council to the European Parliament on the common foreign and security policy)
The European Parliament adopted by 386 votes to 237, with 74 abstentions, a resolution on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (based on the Annual Report from the Council to the European Parliament on the Common Foreign and Security Policy).
The strategic context: Members recalled that the European security environment has deteriorated considerably, becoming more fluid, more complex, more dangerous and less predictable. The lack of communication when reacting to threats constitutes one of the vulnerabilities of the Union’s action.
Europe lacks the resilience to effectively tackle hybrid threats, which often have a cross-border dimension. Therefore, the EU should be prepared to deal with structural changes in the international security landscape and with challenges that include interstate conflicts, state collapse and cyber-attacks, as well as with the security implications of climate change.
Parliament noted with concern that terrorism being carried out by radical Islamist organisations and individuals is targeting Europe on an unprecedented scale, bringing the European way of life under pressure. The EU is called upon to adapt to these security challenges, in particular by using the existing CSDP tools more efficiently, in coherence with other external and internal instruments.
Members called for better cooperation and coordination between Member States, especially in the field of counter-terrorism and they called for a strong preventive policy based on comprehensive deradicalisation programmes.
A revised and more robust CSDP: Parliament is convinced that, as a result, a thorough and substantial revision of the CSDP is needed in order to enable the EU and its Member States to contribute in a decisive way to the security of the Union, to the management of international crises and to asserting the EU’s strategic autonomy.
A successful revision of the CSDP will have to fully integrate the EU Member States in the process from the very beginning in order to avoid the risk of deadlocks in the future. Parliament called on the Member States and the EU for appropriate investment in security and defence.
The resolution emphasised that the establishment of permanent structured cooperation will make it possible to develop self-defence which can strengthen crisis management operations.
It underlined that the CSDP should be based on a strong collective defence principle and efficient financing and that it should be implemented in coordination with international institutions in the field of security and defence, and in full complementarity with NATO. The EU should encourage the Member States to meet NATO capacity goals, which require a minimum level of defence spending of 2 % of GDP.
Members welcomed the roadmap on CSDP presented by the VP/HR. While underlining the need to reinforce the military component of the CSDP, Parliament strongly supported that Member States coordinate investment in security and defence, as well as increasing financial support for defence research at EU level.
Members also welcomed the presentation by the VP/HR of the Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS) as a necessary and positive development for the institutional framework in which the CFSP and the CSDP will operate and develop. They regretted the low involvement of Member States in preparing the EUGS.
In this regard, Parliament reiterated its previous calls for the development of a European Defence White Book and urged the Council to prepare this document without delay.
The CSDP and the integrated approach to crises: Members stressed the importance of creating a permanent EU headquarters for civilian and military CSDP missions and operations, from where an integrated operational staff would support the entire planning cycle, from the initial political concept to detailed plans. The report stressed that this would not be a replication of NATO structures, but instead would constitute the necessary institutional arrangement to strengthen CSDP missions and operations planning and conduction capabilities.
Parliament welcomed the idea of ‘regionalised’ CSDP missions present in the Sahel, notably because it corresponds to the will of countries in the sub-region to increase cooperation in the field of security through the G5 Sahel platform. It also considered that the EU should coherently support the Member States involved in the coalition against the self-styled Islamic State by setting up a CSDP operation, focused on training, in Iraq.
On funding, Parliament called for more flexibility in the EU's financial rules, in order to support its ability to respond to crises. It also called for a revision of the Athena mechanism in order to extend its scope to all costs related, first, to rapid reaction operations and deployment of the EU Battlegroups, and then to all military operations.
European defence cooperation: Parliament considered that the development of a stronger defence industry would strengthen the strategic autonomy and technological independence of the EU. It is convinced that enhancing the EU’s status as a security provider in Europe's neighbourhood needs adequate, sufficient capabilities and a competitive, efficient and transparent defence industry.
The resolution underlined the need to further deepen cyber defence cooperation and to ensure full cyber-resilience of CSDP missions. The Council is urged to incorporate cyber defence as an integral part of its defence debates.
Lastly, Parliament welcomed the Preparatory Action for CSDP-related research and asked for adequate funding for the remainder of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF). It supported the development of an EU Defence Research Programme under the next MFF (2021-2027). It called for European law to be reformed to allow European defence industries to benefit from the same state aids as those enjoyed by US industries.