The European Union wants to strengthen its defenses and acquire the means of intervention
The head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell during a press conference in Brussels, February 27, 2022. AP - Stephanie Lecocq
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
At the end of the meeting of EU Defense Ministers and Foreign Affairs Ministers, the European “
strategic compass
” was finally adopted on Monday 21 March after two years of work.
The ministers have started to prepare new sanctions against Russia, but above all they have established what should serve as the backbone of European defence.
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This "
strategic compass
" is an orientation over several years of what the Europeans want to pool for their defence.
The head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, evokes an almost historic moment with the adoption of what he calls a "
guide for action
", relates our correspondent in Brussels,
Pierre Benazet
.
The most tangible measure: the establishment of a rapid reaction force of 5,000 men, drawing on the Battle Groups, created in 2007. The latter, although operational, "
have never been used, for lack of political will and financial means,
" laments the EU's External Actions Service.
This new force will be made up of “
land, air and maritime components
”, and equipped with transport capabilities in order to be able to “
carry out interventions to save and evacuate European nationals
” caught up in a conflict.
In the longer term, the Twenty-Seven undertake to achieve military spending of 2% of their GDP.
Additional funds that would allow Europeans to invest in equipment they currently lack, including drones, combat systems, tanks, air and missile defense systems.
► To read also: Europe shows the largest increase in arms imports
An increase in military spending
The share of GDP devoted to military spending is now at 1.5%, which represents 200 billion euros, or “
three or four times the budget of Russia and as much as China.
But that's not enough
,” analyzes Josep Borel.
For him, there are many duplicates that can now be eliminated and loopholes to be filled.
"
This is a call to action and this document must not remain a dead letter
", insists Josep Borrell.
“
The European Union must be determined, quick in its reaction to crises and it must invest in defense capabilities in complementarity with NATO,”
he explains.
In the document adopted by the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs of the Union, the European representatives consider that “
the EU is collectively under-equipped to face
current threats and challenges”.
► To read also: Russia wanted to weaken NATO, it strengthened it. But how much?
The head of European diplomacy points out that the war in Ukraine has caused a tectonic change in the architecture of
European security
.
Even if this strategic compass is not only a reaction to the Russian invasion, it extends at length on the posture of defense of the European Union vis-a-vis Russia.
“
The European Union is in danger.
Russia's aggression against Ukraine is not rhetoric and constitutes a call to order
,” stresses Josep Borrell.
The Europeans have also prepared new sanctions which will be decided with US President Joe Biden at an extraordinary NATO summit on Thursday March 24, followed by a meeting of EU Heads of State and Government devoted to the consequences. of Russia's war in Ukraine for security in Europe.
The opportunity also to work on the issue of the oil embargo, which is not resolved.
► To read also: Worried about its supply, Germany is looking for an alternative to Russian gas
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Ukraine
Russia
European Union
Defense