On the Way towards a European Defence Union – A White Book as a First Step

This study proposes a process, framed in the Lisbon Treaty, for the EU to produce a White Book (WB) on European defence. Based on document reviews and expert interviewing, this study details the core elements of a future EU Defence White Book: strategic objectives, necessary capabilities development, specific programs and measures aimed at achieving the improved capabilities, and the process and drafting team of a future European WB.

The study synthesises concrete proposals for each European institution, chief among which is calling on the European Council to entrust the High Representative with the drafting of the White Book.

This paper was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Sub-Committee on
Security and Defence.

Authors: Prof. Dr. Javier Solana (et al)

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, April 2016: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/535011/EXPO_STU(2016)535011_EN.pdf

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