MEPs voted this week in plenary to pass a report on the European defence union, calling for closer defence and security cooperation between the member states.
Rapporteur Urmas Paet said, "I am glad the European Parliament adopted the report on a European defence union. The main reason why we are talking about this issue is that the environment outside Europe and the threats within the EU have become more dangerous."
With Europe now facing a more belligerent Russia, increasing terrorist attacks, hybrid threats and cyber and energy insecurity, Paet said, "Our Union is not equipped to face overwhelming defence challenges."
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The Estonian MEP's report calls on the EU to spend more money on defence and security; he pointed out that European members of Nato contribute only 25 per cent of the organisation's overall finances, with the US shelling out for the remaining 75 per cent.
"For almost 30 years, most of Nato's members have been cutting their defence budgets, leading to smaller armed forces. Cooperation among member states is occasional and Europe continues to rely heavily on Nato capabilities and US solidarity."
However, recent statements from US President-elect Donald Trump sent shockwaves through Europe. He described Nato as "obsolete", and said that that under his leadership, the US would first consider a countries' contribution to the Nato alliance before coming to their aid during a military crisis. But, Paet pointed out, current US President Barack Obama has also highlighted the lack of spending by Europeans on defence.
Paet stressed that any practical proposals in the report should be backed up by proper financing as part of the EU's multi-financial framework budget, and not just be "empty promises."
German EPP group shadow rapporteur Michael Gahler backed the report, saying the document calls on member states to "finally to begin to improve their military capabilities with the help of the EU."
Gahler, recognising the changing security relationship with the US, said, "The Americans will not care about security in Europe for the long-term. Now, Europe has not only the chance but also the responsibility to ensure the necessary stability in the world for Europe's future."
Romanian S&D group shadow rapporteur Tonino Picula stressed that, "Defence is and will remain national competence", though he added, "this shall not prevent us to make defence cooperation stronger.
"In the current security situation, and especially following latest political developments this year, security and defence policies should not be the weakest link of the European integration. "
Like Gahler, Picula wanted to see Europe play a stronger role on the international scene: "The EU will need to build its identity in the 21st century trough security and defence."
However, he warned ,"If we fail our citizens in providing them with security, they will turn more towards national states and further away from common EU solutions."
Not all rapporteurs supported the report. UK ECR group shadow rapporteur Geoffrey Van Orden dismissed closer EU cooperation on defence, saying, "If the EU continues down this path the risk is that it separates European security from the United States, and that is precisely what the Russians wanted for a very long time."
He added "Do you imagine Vladimir Putin is trembling at the thought of a Brussels controlled EU army? The idea is laughable."
German GUE/NGL group shadow rapporteur Sabine Lösing was also against the report, saying, "We utterly rejected the report on a European defence union, because it demands a preparatory action on EU defence research and a fully EU-funded defence research programme, stronger EU-Nato cooperation and the establishment of a start-up fund for preparatory activities."
Lösing also opposed the militarisation of the EU, saying the "EU wants to become a military global player. After Brexit the joint military project shall now form the cement in the EU and the Trump victory is being used as window of opportunity for more EU- military autonomy.
"Therefore we call to stick to a civilian EU, not to promote its militarisation, and strongly reject support of the defence industry, thus the military-industrial complex."
The report was voted through Parliament by 369 votes, with 255 against and 70 abstentions.