LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Autumn 2008

by Karl von Wogau

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Sir,

I was impressed by Henri Bentégeat's article in the last edition of Europe's World. He is absolutely right in pointing out that the European Union needs the means to implement its policies. Hence it needs both civilian and military capabilities to strengthen the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and live up to its global responsibilities.

Bentégeat is also right to stress that this policy must combine the use of civilian and military assets and capabilities, which in turn demands seamless cooperation between all actors. This global approach to security policy is crucial if we are to ensure the coherence and effectiveness of our actions.

I would like to add that it is only with a clear idea of our common interests that we can make our common policies more coherent and effective. It is therefore high time to have an open debate on what the European Union's common security interests are.

Up until now, EU member states define their security interests on a purely national basis. The notion of a "European Interest" is, by contrast politically taboo. This is completely unacceptable.

Increasing political, economic, social and cultural ties between member states, on the one hand, and the challenges of globalisation with its transnational threats on the other, make it both possible and necessary to jointly define the EU’s common security interests – such as border protection, the securing of critical infrastructure sites and energy and trade supply routes.

Henri Bentégeat is right to question the relevance of the Battlegroup concept. The EU needs troops that are available over a longer period of time, and that’s why the European Parliament has suggested putting the Franco-German Eurocorps permanently at the disposal of the EU.

Experience shows that EU nations’ material need for armed forces, border surveillance, protection of critical infrastructures and disaster management is often very similar, if not the same. This creates new opportunities to exploit synergies and enhance interoperability between armed forces and security forces.

The EU should focus its efforts on common capabilities that can be used for both defence and security purposes, such as satellite-based intelligence, unmanned aircraft, helicopters, air and sea transport and telecommunications equipment. A common technical standard for protected telecommunications and the means for the protection of critical infrastructures is equally important.

To develop the capabilities needed for a strong European Security and Defence Policy, EU member states are going to have to improve their cooperation. This will mean the stronger involvement by the EU and a programme of structural reforms to overcome the persistant barriers between defence and security.

More specifically, we should rapidly increase funding for security research; foster joint research programmes between the European Commission and the European Defence Agency and establish a European defence and security market. We should Europeanise strategic assets by allowing the use of Galileo and GMES for ESDP operations and by developing shared capabilities in the areas of strategic transport and logistics.

Because, we send soldiers and civilian personnel into dangerous operations, we have to ensure that they receive reliable and comprehensive information and appropriate equipment.

It is often said that our defence budgets should be increased and overlaps between the European Union and NATO avoided. This is certainly true.

However, the main problem on our way toward improving our capabilities are the many overlaps between EU member states and the need to improve our ability to spend both more collectively and more wisely. Experience has shown that large-scale, shared projects cannot be properly managed when 27 different national budget authorities apply the principle of "fair return." We should therefore finance more common European projects and programmes from the EU budget.