20 European Security & Defence 2015
Partner BSC 2015 United States of America
Transatlantic cooperation and Germany’s White Paper (BSC/Wolfgang Hellmich MP*) The international community
and an integration of defence policy instruments, towards a
is currently confronted with huge problems and challenges
European defence union.
in the field of foreign and security policy. In 2014, more than
For that purpose Europe needs to conduct an intensive stra-
460 conflicts were raging worldwide, including on our very
tegic dialogue on its interests, aims and means. We must be
doorstep. The Ukraine-Russia conflict, the advance of the
clear about what the European Union can and must achieve
Islamic State terrorist organisation in Syria and Iraq, the Ebola
in the area of security policy. The civil, military, diplomatic,
epidemic, the refugee crisis in Europe and hybrid warfare all
economic and financial policy areas must come together in
pose major challenges for our political action. This arc of ten-
a common framework that is viable for the future. In order to
sion is so wide-reaching that no state today can deal with the
shape a more effective CSDP in a context of tighter budgets
crises on its own. In reaction to the developments in Ukraine,
we need to launch initiatives that deliver clear added value
the NATO heads of state and government decided at the be-
for the participating states as well as for the EU as a whole. I
ginning of September 2014 to improve their military capabi-
think we must be prepared – however hard this may be – step
lities and responsiveness. Following its Wales Summit NATO
by step to give the EU the same sovereignty in the field of
faces a process of adaptation. Alliance defence has moved
security and defence policy as we have given it in other policy
back up to the top of the NATO agenda, military forces are
areas.
again gaining importance. The EU has started the process of
The building of a European defence union will be another
overhauling the European Security Strategy and Germany, like
major symbol for Europe. We shall be guided in our reform
several of its partners, is reviewing its basic strategic texts.
efforts by the goal of a European army, the ideal of the Euro-
Embedding our foreign and security policy in multilateral,
pean citizen in uniform. As of now we must adhere to the aim
cooperative and supranational
of common
structures is and will remain
European mi-
a key objective for Germany. European and transatlantic security is inextricably linked: as the European Union evolves it must therefore also foster the
“A major step towards more commonality is to develop the interoperability of all the forces within the EU and NATO so as to enable their effective deployment.”
EU-NATO strategic partner-
litary forces and study what common action we can take along the
ship as a crucial factor for the
path towards
further development of its security policy. The transatlantic
that objective. We must seize the opportunities offered by the
partnership remains indispensable for our security: but how
Lisbon Treaty provisions on Permanent Structured Coopera-
can we ensure that Europe becomes a strategic partner on an
tion in order to deepen defence cooperation within the EU.
equal footing?
A major step towards more commonality is to develop the interoperability of all the forces within the EU and NATO so as
Further development of the Common European Security and Defence Policy
to enable their effective deployment. The Weimar Triangle states’ proposals for reforming the EU battlegroups set an example here.
The Common European Security and Defence Policy, for
The integration of Europe’s armed forces has already be-
a time overshadowed by the financial and debt crisis and
gun. Over the past few years there have been many positive
at a standstill, is now once again taking centre stage. But if
examples of closer cooperation among the EU partners,
Europe wishes in future to make its voice heard in the foreign
including, in some cases, within NATO. Nonetheless we can
policy arena and to contribute effectively to increasing peace
and must do more, for example:
and freedom all over the world, then we must make a vigorous
» Creation of an independent Ministerial Council for military
effort to further develop the CESDP. Our path must lead away from a security and defence policy geared to national considerations and take us, through a strengthening of cooperation
issues (Council of Defence Ministers) within the EU; » Creation of a Defence Committee within the European Parliament;
