EU leaders stumble on defence, economic integration
European
leaders have put the economic crisis behind them by agreeing a landmark
bank deal, but stumbled on deeper economic reforms and defence policy,
highlighting the tough road to greater EU integration. Satisfied with a
banking union deal that would result in one of the biggest handovers of…
EU leaders agree limited defence cooperation, divided on future
By Bryan McManus
3 hours ago
Brussels (AFP) - European Union leaders agreed limited steps
Thursday towards greater defence cooperation but British opposition to
the bloc having its own armed forces highlighted differences over how
far they can go.
At their first summit dedicated to defence since
2008, the 28 leaders were looking for ways to boost military
capabilities at a time when budgets are under intense pressure.
"Pooling and sharing" is the catch-phrase which all agree on, but the lines become blurred as to whether this leads to separate EU forces or just beefed-up national militaries which then work together.
"Cooperation in the area of military capability development is crucial to maintaining key capabilities, remedying shortfalls and avoiding" duplication, the leaders said in a statement.
They called on member states to "deepen defence cooperation by improving the capacity to conduct missions and operations," all based on a "more integrated" European defence industry.
EU President Herman Van Rompuy warned that as spending is cut, defence companies are "struggling to remain competitive and cutting edge".
"Defence is a matter of security... but it is also related to industry and jobs," Van Rompuy said.
Among specific steps, leaders approved joint EU development of drones and in-flight refuelling aircraft, satellites and cyber-defence.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he agreed with cooperation but could not accept a separate EU military force.
"It makes sense for nation states to cooperate over matters of defence to keep us all safer... but it is not right for the EU to have capabilities, armies, air forces and the rest of it," Cameron said as he arrived.
"We have to get that demarcation correct, between cooperation which is right, but EU capabilities which is wrong," he said.
Britain insists its armed forces must remain strictly under national control, operating through NATO, not the EU, to ensure European security.
Other EU leaders highlighted the benefits of cooperation rather than the drawbacks.
On foreign and security policy, "Europe can work much closer together," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We can pool our armament activities but above all, we must also have a coordinated policy," Merkel said.
'No such thing as a European army'
NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who attended the summit's defence session, told AFP earlier this week he wanted to see EU leaders commit to do more, citing the pressing need for drones and in-flight refuelling aircraft.
"If European nations invest more in military capabilities, they will also make stronger contributions to NATO," Rasmussen said Thursday.
"There is no such thing as a European army, only national capabilities," he added.
Asked about Cameron's remarks, the NATO chief refused to be drawn, saying: "We had an excellent exchange of views."
Britain and France have frequently taken the lead in military action -- as in Libya -- with their EU allies contributing logistical or other aid but not troops on the ground.
Led by Britain and France, many EU members play an important role in NATO, which the US set up to rally its European allies against the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
It also has an embryonic Common Security and Defence Policy and a European Defence Agency tasked to promote military cooperation.
"Pooling and sharing" is the catch-phrase which all agree on, but the lines become blurred as to whether this leads to separate EU forces or just beefed-up national militaries which then work together.
"Cooperation in the area of military capability development is crucial to maintaining key capabilities, remedying shortfalls and avoiding" duplication, the leaders said in a statement.
They called on member states to "deepen defence cooperation by improving the capacity to conduct missions and operations," all based on a "more integrated" European defence industry.
EU President Herman Van Rompuy warned that as spending is cut, defence companies are "struggling to remain competitive and cutting edge".
"Defence is a matter of security... but it is also related to industry and jobs," Van Rompuy said.
Among specific steps, leaders approved joint EU development of drones and in-flight refuelling aircraft, satellites and cyber-defence.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said he agreed with cooperation but could not accept a separate EU military force.
"It makes sense for nation states to cooperate over matters of defence to keep us all safer... but it is not right for the EU to have capabilities, armies, air forces and the rest of it," Cameron said as he arrived.
"We have to get that demarcation correct, between cooperation which is right, but EU capabilities which is wrong," he said.
Britain insists its armed forces must remain strictly under national control, operating through NATO, not the EU, to ensure European security.
Other EU leaders highlighted the benefits of cooperation rather than the drawbacks.
On foreign and security policy, "Europe can work much closer together," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We can pool our armament activities but above all, we must also have a coordinated policy," Merkel said.
'No such thing as a European army'
NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who attended the summit's defence session, told AFP earlier this week he wanted to see EU leaders commit to do more, citing the pressing need for drones and in-flight refuelling aircraft.
"If European nations invest more in military capabilities, they will also make stronger contributions to NATO," Rasmussen said Thursday.
"There is no such thing as a European army, only national capabilities," he added.
Asked about Cameron's remarks, the NATO chief refused to be drawn, saying: "We had an excellent exchange of views."
Pressed
on whether the EU should look at shared military capabilities, he said
he was talking about individual EU nations boosting their armed forces
through increased cooperation, or "smart defence" in the NATO lexicon.
The
bottom line is that "NATO is and will remain the bedrock of
Euro-Atlantic security and I don't see any contradiction between
strengthened defence in Europe and a strong NATO," he said.Britain and France have frequently taken the lead in military action -- as in Libya -- with their EU allies contributing logistical or other aid but not troops on the ground.
Led by Britain and France, many EU members play an important role in NATO, which the US set up to rally its European allies against the Soviet Union in the Cold War.
As
the EU has gradually acquired more powers from national governments -- a
process speeded up by the economic crisis -- there have been increasing
calls that it establish a common defence policy.
In 2010, the EU
launched the European External Action Service, its diplomatic arm, which
has quickly established a global presence with a voice in key dossiers,
such as Iran's disputed nuclear programme.It also has an embryonic Common Security and Defence Policy and a European Defence Agency tasked to promote military cooperation.
The
EU has mounted limited joint military operations, such as anti-piracy
patrols off the Horn of Africa, where it works alongside a similar NATO
force.
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