Common EU defence policy: a realistic goal?
If re-elected, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wants to appoint an EU defence commissioner and better coordinate the defence policies of the member states in response to the threats posed by Russia's aggression and Donald Trump's possible return to the White House. The press asks whether the EU has what it takes to become a security alliance.
There is no more important objective
Political scientist Piotr Buras expresses optimism in Polityka:
“Europe already spends several times more on the military than Russia. But the EU countries need to think outside the box when it comes to the differences in the definition of threats and the associated limited mutual trust. These differences are the reason why - despite all the progress - we are still collectively down for the count. There is no more important goal for European leaders, including the Polish government, to focus on today. If it can be achieved, even Trump might not turn out to be as scary as we imagine him to be today.”
EU defence commissionar a long way off
Die Presse is not optimistic that the EU will be able to find a common line:
“To some observers, 'defence commissioner' sounds just like 'EU defence minister'. ... Of course, one can philosophise long and hard about whether there should be an EU army. But Article 42 Section 2 of the EU Treaty sets out quite clearly how long the road to this would be: 'The common security and defence policy shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This will lead to a common defence, when the European Council, acting unanimously, so decides.' A unanimous decision to create a common defence policy for the EU from Brussels? Good luck to all those who want to bet on that.”
Enough of parochialism
The problem right now is the lack of structured cooperation within the EU, complains Handelsblatt:
“How else to explain the fact that nobody in Europe can really say exactly how much artillery is gathering dust unused in depots because there is no centralised data collection? There are glimmers of hope, such as the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which envisages a European air defence system. But at the same time the defence industry is still waiting for long-term contracts for artillery. ... Long-term joint planning, procurement and financing at the EU level is therefore top priority now. This is the only way to send a clear signal to the defence industry, which is still far too hesitant in some areas, that it will not be left sitting on unused stocks once production capacities have been ramped up.”
Joint nuclear deterrence
Le Temps publishes an appeal for Europe to stock up on nuclear weapons:
“Europe must develop its own nuclear deterrence strategy. ... Ukraine, which gave up the nuclear weapons left on its territory after the dissolution of the USSR, has learned the hard way that security guarantees are not enough to deter potential Russian attacks. Any country with nuclear power plants and the necessary scientific expertise is in a position to develop its own weapons relatively quickly. France could also offer to share its technological expertise with other European countries. This rearmament of Europe may seem radical, but the stakes are existential.”