In the annual report 2021 on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), Foreign Affairs Committee MEPs warn that the EU is facing new threats and call for firm response to the external security challenges. MEPs and Josep BORRELL discuss Parliament’s annual reports and the proposals on how to strengthen the EU as a global foreign policy and security actor. The report, adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), focuses on the development of the EU's security and defence doctrine through the Strategic Compass, CSDP missions and operations, crisis management, resilience, capabilities, partnerships and parliamentary oversight of CSDP.

statement

debate

plenary session

common security and defence policy (T)

McALLISTER, David (EPP, DE)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

SATOURI, Mounir (Greens/EFA, FR)

LOISEAU, Nathalie (Renew, FR)

REUTEN, Thijs (S&D, NL)

CFSP and CSDP (Common foreign and security policy & Common security and defence policy): statement by Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteur and extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Just listen to the news: our environment is unstable. Whether it's Ukraine, whether it's the Sahel, whether it's endless wars in Syria and Libya, which have consequences for the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, European Union cannot simply remain a tool of soft power if we want to be able to enforce our values, but also our freedoms, our democratic models. We have to be able to be credible as a security provider. This means being able to intervene in crises, for example being independently able to bring back European nationals in danger . This was not the case in Kabul, for example. It also means being able to have operations and missions outside the European Union, as we have today, but to decide more quickly, with more means, with more robust mandates.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, A second subject on which we absolutely have to move forward is what we call the European Union's rapid action capability. That means men and equipment who are used to training together, which complement each other according to the different specialties of the European Member States and which can be deployed in the event of a crisis. First, you have to agree on the employment scenarios, but you also have to know who is paying. For a very long time, tactical battalions had to bear the cost of their deployment themselves. That's one of the reasons it didn't work.

SOUNDBITE (French), Nathalie LOISEAU (Renew, FR), Rapporteur, Operations have to ask to the Council what they can do and how they can do. It is not necessary for everything and sometimes for details. That is what a European Union general quarter can and should be used for. A single, clear command. This is what the military ask for when they deploy in the field. They want the same rules of engagement, for example for all the nations that are present. And they want a clear line of command to be able to adapt to situations which, in essence, in crises, are unstable.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, The EU needs to take the lead in promoting global. Partnerships and a strong multilateral system. We should promote alliances of democracies worldwide and pool our resources to counter malign interferences by authoritarian states. We need to develop our partnerships in the areas of conflict prevention and conflict resolution and should build alliances based on our green deal.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, 2/ We need to ensure our strategic sovereignty and fundamental areas, including by reducing our dependencies in key technological areas, critical infrastructures and supply chains. It. Is also about establishing a European Defence Union, the new strategic compass, which hopefully the High Representative will be adopted at the end of March, should guide the way forward.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, There is a lot of examples that show that we have to face hybrid conflicts. Cyber operations and intimidation. The state hijacking of planes and the blatant manipulation of migrants like in Belarus, energy blackmailed by Russia against Moldova, the use of disinformation as propaganda and in the military area it has been said we have in the Sahel how the privatisation of armies is posing a new threat to our operations.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the European Commission, And you report underlined the need for more coordinated and coherent approach, which is certainly needed, certainly. And according to the treaty, I am in charge of giving more coherence to the external policy of the European Union, putting together the two pillars the Intergovernmental Pillar and the Commission Pillar.

SOUNDBITE (English), Thijs REUTEN (S&amp;D, NL), - Our values should be at the heart of a truly coherent and integral foreign policy and president. That means it is time to finally do away with unanimity in foreign affairs. To see if a speed we need is one in which our responses are swift, in which our unity not only defends but promotes European values, and in which decisiveness and the prospect of sanctions deter aggression.

SOUNDBITE (French), Mounir SATOURI (Greens/EFA, FR), The Ukraine crisis is a crisis that we haven't seen, the like of which you haven't seen for decades. Europeans are trying to avoid war. So yes, Europe needs a new policy that will guarantee our collective security, and we need to speak with one voice to do that. Some would like to remake the orders of the past the world orders of the past with spheres of influence and undermining democracy. But so in the face of that, we need unity.