EU Defence, Where Political Opportunity Meets Strategic Necessity | Why the EU is suddenly marching to a different drumbeat on defence | Germany: EU military command should be based in Brussels

Summary:

Since the United Kingdom voted on 23 June 2016 to leave the European Union, the writer EU says that it seems everyone has an idea for strengthening European defence - he quotes proposals from France and Germany, Italy, the Visegrád Group, the Weimar Triangle and HR Federica Mogherini.

Whether all or some of these ideas will become a reality is not certain.

There are worries in London and Washington that some proposals on the EU table, such as an EU military headquarters, might undermine NATO. But if Brexit inspires EU governments to better spend their defence budgets and deepen their military cooperation, NATO would benefit too, as 21 countries would remain members of both the union and the alliance.

Only time will tell if EU governments deliver on defence. If they don’t, never would so many write so much about so little.

Some of the related sources below cover discussions on these themes before and during an formal meeting of EU Defence Minister in Bratislava, 27 September 2016.

Official

Italy: For a stronger European defense. The Italian vision, September 2016 http://g8fip1kplyr33r3krz5b97d1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/italian-proposal-finalUE.pdf

Italy: Ministry of Defence: Highlights: October 2016: Italy’s Vision for a Stronger European Defence, 11.10.16 http://www.difesa.it/EN/Primo_Piano/Pagine/xx.aspx

---

News

Politico, 18.09.16: Germany: EU military command should be based in Brussels http://www.politico.eu/article/germany-eu-military-command-should-be-based-in-brussels/

Politico, 19.09.16: Mogherini pushes for two-speed Europe on defence http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-foreign-policy-chief-federica-mogherini-pushes-for-two-speed-europe-on-defense-security/

EurActiv, 19.09.16: France leading the campaign for EU military HQ http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/france-leading-the-campaign-for-eu-military-hq/

EUObserver, 27.09.16: Finland calls for 'pragmatic' EU defence cooperation https://euobserver.com/foreign/135244

EUObserver, 26.09.16: Italy lays out 'vision' of EU army https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/135235

Politico, 26.09.16: Disorder in the ranks on EU defense plans http://www.politico.eu/article/disorder-in-the-ranks-on-eu-defense-plans/

Deutsche Welle, 27.09.16: France, Germany push defense plan despite British resistance http://dw.com/p/2QfQJ

---

Commentary and Analysis

ECFR: Commentary, 14.09.16: European defence: More smoke, but will there be fire? http://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_european_defence_more_smoke_but_will_there_be_fire7122

The Conversation, 16.09.16: Why the EU is suddenly marching to a different drumbeat on defence http://theconversation.com/why-the-eu-is-suddenly-marching-to-a-different-drumbeat-on-defence-65588

Deutsche Welle, 27.09.16: Interview: EU army unlikely while national interests remain at heart http://dw.com/p/2Qe82

---

ESO Records

ESO: Background information: Does the New EU Global Strategy Deliver on Security and Defence? http://www.europeansources.info/record/does-the-new-eu-global-strategy-deliver-on-security-and-defence/

ESO: Background information: EU army? Much ado about nothing http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-army-much-ado-about-nothing/

ESO: Background information: The EU Global Strategy and Defence: Ambitious but Credible? http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-global-strategy-and-defence-ambitious-but-credible/

ESO: Background information: EU Ambassadors Conference ‘Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe’. Opening remarks by Mogherini http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-ambassadors-conference-shared-vision-common-action-a-stronger-europe-opening-remarks-by-mogherini/

---