It is important to follow the evolution of European integration in terms of defence. The think tank CEPS publishes a report by Dylan Macchiarini Crosson and Steven Blockmans.
The summary points the way: At the crossroads of industrial policy and the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the European Union’s (EU) defence initiatives are accelerating with the political backing of both the EU institutions and key Member States. Russia’s war in Ukraine has played a seminal role in the introduction of taboo-breaking proposals to strengthen EU defence capabilities. In order to be effective, the EU must adopt the mantra of ‘inclusive integration’, recognising that increased cooperation amongst Member States, candidate countries, and like-minded partners makes the Union stronger. Policy actions under this mantra should thus aim to complete the regulatory framework of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, continue providing the right incentives for joint capabilities development, address the needs of Member State armed forces, maintain the EU’s technological cutting edge and guarantee continued political momentum.
We believe that investing in a Europe of defence is a decisive step towards political union and the possibility of Europe becoming a true strategic player.
Here, too, we want to recall the importance of European strategic autonomy. The war in Ukraine shows us the absolute necessity of rethinking a Eurasian security framework (in dialogue with Beijing) in the broader context of a glocalisation perspective.
Europe, within the transatlantic alliance (we hope in critical terms), must have its own voice and work with the US for planetary security. We believe that any scenario of separation of the worlds is anti-historical and we think that Europe can become a geostrategic laboratory for the political sustainability of the world.
