Cardiff: Birthplace of a new Transatlantic Narrative? Egmont Security Policy Brief No. 57, July 2014

Cardiff has the potential to turn into a “great meeting”, if the focus is on forging a new and attractive narrative to underpin a solid transatlantic security relationship, in which NATO finds its place. But Europeans must become serious on defence – and not only because the US asks for it. Otherwise, the EU and for sure the European States will become strategic bystanders and even objects of great power competition. That would be a real game-changer. That is why, in Cardiff, “we” ought to be ambitious enough to deal with the real issues, including the relationship between NATO and the CSDP

Geen leger, is onbetaalbaar = No Belgian armed forces is unaffordable. Egmont Security Policy Brief No. 61, February 2015

In this Security Policy Brief Jo Coelmont examines the challenges Belgium is facing at present. On the one hand there is the declared political objective to henceforth provide its defence forces with the means of achieving all of its tasks and, furthermore, to develop a new Strategic Plan, while taking decisions on replacing its current fleet of F16 fighter aircraft and determine strategic orientations on the replacement of frigates, mine hunter vessels and other major equipment programmes. On the other hand, the already taken austerity measures impose severe structural cuts on its defence budget for the upcoming five years. In this context the author is proposing some « dos and don’ts«

With PESCO brought to life, will European defence live happily ever after? Egmont Security Policy Brief No. 90 July 2017

In 2003 already, the draft constitutional treaty elaborated by the European Convention included several articles that amounted to a move from an entirely intergovernmental European Security and Defence Policy to a Common Security and Defence Policy. These articles found their way, unchanged, into the Lisbon Treaty. But, they have hardly been used, including the clauses on Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO)

European Strategic Autonomy: Which Military Level of Ambition? Egmont Security Policy Brief No. 109, March 2019

The EU Global Strategy is crystal clear on the EU’s political level of ambition yet remarkably silent on the corresponding military level of ambition. But strategy without capabilities is just a hallucination. Recent developments in the EU make it possible, however, for the Member States to agree on an appropriate and affordable military level of ambition. The aim: to conduct autonomous crisis management operations and to contribute substantially to territorial defence within the NATO framework. We should not forget that the European countries have the primary responsibility for the territorial defence of their own continent

Mali: another European intervention without the EU?

As French forces are engaged in combat operations in Mali, even belated EU involvement remains crucial, to ensure that the intervention fits in with the political end-state that the EU rightly pursues

Mehr Verantwortung in der Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik. Wie sich GSVP und NATO besser ergänzen können. DGAP Analyse Oktober 2013 N° 10 = More responsibility in the security and defense policy. How Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and NATO can complement each other better. DGAP Analysis October 2013 N° 10. Egmont Commentary, 15 October 2013

More responsibility in security and defense policy. How GSVP and NATO can complement each other bette

Mehr Verantwortung in der Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik: Wie sich GSVP und NATO besser ergänzen können

Obwohl die USA ihre Führungsrolle innerhalb der NATO aufrechterhalten wollen, fordern sie aufgrund des Sparzwangs im Verteidigungsetat eine gemeinsame europäische Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik, die diesen Namen verdient. Doch Europa ist unfähig, Verantwortung für internationale militärische Operationen zu übernehmen, ohne sich reflexartig den USA zuzuwenden. Libyen und Mali haben gezeigt, dass zahlenmäßig starke EU-Truppen mobilisiert werden können, jedoch auch offenbart, dass bestimmte militärische Potenziale nach wie vor fehlen. Von einer tragfähigen und langfristigen Konfliktlösungsstrategie kann keine Rede sein. Nötig ist daher ein ganzheitlicher Ansatz, der die Kooperation von militärischen und zivilen Akteuren vorsieht, um in internationalen Konflikten Sicherheit und Stabilität zu schaffen. NATO und GSVP könnten sich angesichts dieser Herausforderungen hervorragend ergänzen. Die Autoren haben hierfür drei konkrete Empfehlungen ausgearbeitet, die zu mehr transatlantischer Solidarität und zu mehr Effizienz bei internationalen Operationen führen können.Even though the USA is eager to maintain its role as leader of NATO, it insists, owing to its need for reductions in the defence budget, on a truly Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Europe, however, is unable to assume responsibility for international military operations without turning to the US. Libya and Mali put the spotlight on Europe’s ability to mobilize scores of soldiers, but also on certain missing military capacities. Most notably, it laid bare the lack of a firm long term strategy for conflict resolution. A holistic approach with military and civilian agents working hand in hand is necessary in order to restore security and stability in a crisis situation. Given these challenges, NATO and CSDP could perfectly complement one another. Bearing this in mind, the three practical recommendations compiled by the authors could lead the way to more transatlantic solidarity and to more efficient international operations