The Assembly’s Defence Committee has adopted a report on “A European defence policy” which, according to its Chairman, Dieter Schloten (Germany, Socialist Group), it intends as a contribution to the Convention working on European Union reforms. “We are sending our recommendations to the members of the Convention working group on defence”, Chairman Schloten says, “to support Commissioner Barnier’s group in finding answers to the most pressing questions regarding reform of Europe’s future security and defence policy. We hope that the working group will draw upon the Assembly’s unique experience as the first European interparliamentary forum for security and defence”.

The Defence Committee’s recommendations touch upon institutional, operational and capability issues:

1. The Committee endorses the EU member states’ determination to develop an autonomous capability to take decisions and action in the field of security and defence. “That means we have to strengthen the EU Military Staff with a view to setting up an autonomous chain of command, as well as give the EU a military intelligence capacity”, Schloten says. The Committee takes the view that a proper EU intelligence agency needs to be set up.

2. It suggests that the Convention should press for the development of a European strategic concept. “This would go beyond what governments are doing at the moment, which is a mere comparison of national defence doctrines. We need to find out what we want to do with respect to security and defence and we need to inform the rest of the world. That is what a strategic concept is for. It also encourages public debate and this will help forge a spirit of European defence”, Schloten believes. “One of the principal tenets of the doctrine should specify what the conditions for the use of force by the EU are, particularly with reference to the role of the UN Security Council”, he says.

3. The Committee also proposes that defence matters should be among those covered by enhanced cooperation and that the qualified majority voting rule should apply not only to the CSFP but also to the ESDP. “We know these are far-reaching proposals but we think it is possible to go that far if we accept certain limits, for instance decisions involving the use of military force”, Chairman Schloten says.

4. The Committee further suggests that national defence ministers should meet as a formal Council of Defence Ministers to organise intergovernmental cooperation in defence planning and armaments cooperation. This would facilitate the attainment of the EU’s Headline Goal.

5. The Committee considers that reform of the European institutions will be incomplete for as long as a common defence does not fall within the EU’s area of competence.

While NATO and transatlantic cooperation continue to play an important role in the security and stability of Europe, EU member states have decided to increase their own contributions and responsibility in that area. The Committee points out that the Maastricht Treaty invited EU member states to join WEU and that accession to the modified Brussels Treaty would be an important step in developing a common defence policy. “Among the candidate countries there is some interest in joining the future European partners in their collective defence effort, as these countries are all familiar with WEU because of their status of associates partners in that Organisation”, the Chairman says.

The Defence Committee’s recommendations also cover questions of operations and capabilities, suggesting that the Convention ask governments:

1. To recognise that it is necessary to adapt the scope of the Petersberg tasks so that Europe can prepare to deal with the conflicts of the 21st century.

2. To modernise capabilities, in particular with respect to human, electronic and space-based intelligence, and to enhance the means of military projection.

3. The Committee also recommends moving forward European armaments cooperation by creating a European R&D agency that funds research through a Community budget. “The joint efforts to develop future defence systems should be funded by the Community while armaments programmes should be open to all countries wishing to take part”, Schloten says.


The full text of the Committee’s recommendation and report can be downloaded from the Assembly’s website here: Document 1798