THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION
The lack of unity of leading EU-Members shows how the continent remains haunted by its past
The Arab Spring, Libya and Europe by Michael Hancock MP, London The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), also known as the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) since the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, has not been at its best recently. The belated and timid reaction to the historic events unravelling in the Arab world has revealed the weaknesses of the post-Lisbon Union. The EU is struggling to confirm itself as an actor to be reckoned with and as a bloc defending the interests of its 500 million citizens. The new Treaty has so far failed to re-invigorate the Union.
No consideration to using CSDP means The lack of unity among leading EU member states when voting in the UN Security Council on the resolution to protect Libya’s civilian population served as a strong reminder of how the continent remains haunted by its past and still fails to forge joint positions when it really counts. Although the conflict is on our doorstep and despite the fact that European countries are the main consumers of Libyan oil and gas, it would appear that at no point was any serious consideration given to making use of CSDP instruments. For example, although the evacuation of civilians falls within the remit of the Petersberg tasks which are recognised by the Lisbon Treaty, the member states chose rather to organise their own separate evacuation operations and made no use of the EU instruments created for that purpose. As regards the delivery of humanitarian aid to people in Libya, the EU has put itself in an impossible position whereby others − in this case the UN Agency for Humanitarian Aid − determine whether the EU will be able to carry out the humanitarian mission it has decided upon. This is certainly not what was intended when the ESDP/CSDP was created. If the EU wants to be the global player it claims to be, it needs to be able to act autonomously when our interests are at stake. The crisis in North Africa and in Libya in particular is also a European problem and Europe should act accordingly. As things stand now, the EU is not even capable of confirming its reputation of at least being a wielder of soft power that can transform regimes, countries and regions. Currently, it is at best a bystander, while others − member states as well as other institutions − influence and shape events.
The EU should seek a stronger role in key regions North Africa is one example where this should be done immediately. We need to respond to the various grassroots revolutions taking place there and see them as an opportunity, not a threat to stability. Currently, the focus is too much on short-
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Michael Hancock MP Mr. Hancock was born 1946 in Portsmouth. Since 1971 he has been a Member of the House of Commons and the longest serving member of the Defence Select Committee of the House of Commons. Member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe since 1997 and Member of the European Security and Defence Assembly (ESDA) / Assembly of WEU in Paris. His function in the ESDA was Vice-Chairman of the Political Committee. He was also the leader of the Liberal Group in the ESDA.
term problems, such as an alleged influx of migrants and threatened energy supplies. The EU must mobilise as much as possible, even in times of budgetary constraints, in order to support the people in the region and their aspirations for the rule of law, democracy and social opportunities. This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change this part of the world for the better and the fruits of today’s investments will be reaped tenfold in the future. It is also important to be involved as early as possible in the renewal of these societies, not least of all because of the future repercussions of their revolutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the short term, the new governments will in all likelihood have difficulties containing their peoples’ deeprooted anger against certain policies pursued by Israel, policies that are only superficially sanctioned by the West. While we must respect Israel’s security interests, our standing among the people of the Arab world will not improve unless we help bring about lasting change for the Palestinians.
Three scenarios to follow in Libya As far as the situation in Libya is concerned, I see three scenarios for the coming months: In the first scenario the current military impasse will continue and a low-intensity war will simmer on. Western support for the rebel movement will not include heavy weaponry and there will be no deployment of ground troops to Libya. Moammar Qaddafi’s forces will eventually run out of arms and munitions and will have to retreat, but there is no guarantee of this as Qaddafi still has substantial financial resources at his disposal and the arms embargo is far from perfect. Moreover this can take time, too much time for NATO and others to stand by and watch. In the second scenario, Qaddafi will withstand the rebel forces
