MEPs call on Europe to strengthen its defence capacity

In a report adopted by the Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, MEPs want the EU to strengthen its defence capacity against a backdrop of multiple security threats.

The report, originally prepared by MEPs on the Committee on Security and Defence, emphasises the absolute need for the EU to recognise and meet the current challenges posed by multiple and evolving security threats. The EU needs, they say, to engage in new and better policies that will enable the European Union and its member states to strengthen their defence in Europe. Noting the overall limited progress and underinvestment in common European defence capability development, industrial capacity, and defence readiness since the establishment of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) 25 years ago, MEPs insist on the need for a truly common European approach, policies and joint efforts in the area of defence. They say a paradigm shift in EU CSDP is essential to enable the European union to act decisively in its neighbourhood, and on the global stage, to safeguard its values, interests, citizens, and promote its strategic objectives.

Need for close EU-NATO cooperation

In the report, MEPs say close coordination on deterrence and collaboration between the EU and NATO is needed with regard to the development of coherent, complementary and interoperable defence capability and reinforcement of industrial production capacities. They concur with the wider ambition of strengthening the European pillar within NATO, while underlining that the development of a European Defence Union should go hand-in-hand with the deepening of EU-NATO cooperation. The report also states that, in light of unprecedented security threats, all EU member states should work urgently to reach a level of defence spending as a proportion of their GDP significantly higher that the NATO’s current target of 2%.

Firm support for Ukraine

Against the backdrop of Russia’s continued war of aggression against Ukraine, MEPs reaffirm their unwavering support for Kyiv and call for the EU and its member states to support Ukraine in expanding the international coalition in support of its so-called Victory Plan and Peace Formula. This is the only viable route to restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on the basis of international law, and thereby holding Russia, its leadership and its accomplices in the Belarussian regime and elsewhere, to account for its war of aggression.

The report also states the belief of MEPs that the geopolitical developments in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly interconnected as particularly, Russia and China deepen their ties, and pose significant challenges to global peace and security and international rules-based order.

More money needed to strengthen the EU’s defence sector

MEPs are happy to see the efforts already undertaken to strengthen the EU’s defence readiness and defence industrial capacity, including the European Commission’s proposal for the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). They note, however, that the proposed EUR 1,5 billion financial envelope for EDIP is insufficient, stressing that substantial budgetary efforts will be necessary for EDIP to have a significant effect on military support for Ukraine, the development of a genuine EU defence capability and a competitive EU defence technological and industrial base.

As part of a range of other suggestions, the report also calls on the European Investment Bank to further review its lending policy in order to facilitate more investment into the defence sector.

The report was adopted by 55 votes in favour, 19 against with 1 abstention.

Quote

After the vote, rapporteur Nicolás Pascual de la Parte (EPP, Spain) said: “The European Union must equip itself with an autonomous defence pillar, within the NATO framework. This entails developing an independent technological and defence base to provide the necessary military capabilities, following the principle of community preference. It is also essential to identify adequate financial resources to build this European defence initiative by exploring new funding sources.”

Next steps

The report will now be submitted to a vote during the 10-13 March plenary session.