About: common defence
Gulf crisis is testing a new generation of European leaders
A new generation of EU leaders is grappling with the shipping crisis in the Arabian Gulf in a way that could determine the future military posture of individual countries, and perhaps even of the European Union, writes Faisal Al Yafai.
EU fends off US attack in spat over the bloc’s military reforms
The EU responded on Thursday (16 May) to US accusations that a new European military pact risks shutting out American companies of European defence projects and undermine NATO.
In Strasbourg, Merkel brings European army one step further
In an eagerly awaited speech on the future of Europe before what she called 'the biggest democratic parliament of the world', German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Tuesday (13 November) for a "real, true European army" and a common asylum framework.
Why NATO should double-down on Georgian membership
When NATO leaders meet in Brussels this week they should have Georgia on their minds, write Amanda Paul and Ana Andguladze.
Nine European countries to formalise EU defence force plan
Nine EU nations will on Monday (25 June) formalise a plan to create a European military intervention force, a French minister said, with Britain backing the measure as a way to maintain strong defence ties with the bloc after Brexit.
Academic: Weakened Europe has once again become ‘a playground for influence games’
With Europe’s relative weight diminishing on the world stage, it becomes easier and easier for outside parties to play divide and rule and take advantage of European disunity, says Alexander Mattelaer.
EU defence gets €20 billion budget boost
The EU on Wednesday (2 May) announced plans to spend nearly 20 billion euros on defence over its next long-term budget, as the bloc seeks to boost its resilience to the perceived threat from Russia.
UK’s tortured approach to EU defence takes new twist
The UK has always had a tortured relationship with the EU’s defence policy ambitions. In 2010, David Cameron’s Conservative party promised to withdraw the UK from the European Defence Agency (EDA), only to backtrack two years later.
EU defence ministers hold ‘historic’ first meeting in PESCO format
EU defence ministers yesterday (6 March) held their first meeting in the 'PESCO format'. This means that, although ministers from all EU member states were present, only those participating in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) pact were involved in adopting legal acts.
Juncker warns against ‘mixed up’ Brexit talks as May requests defence treaty
Britain wants to agree a defence and security treaty with the EU before its leaves the bloc in March 2019, Prime Minister Theresa May told the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (17 February).
Lithuania president: Europe is back but migration, security challenges remain
Europe is back - its economy is growing and political stability is improving, Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė told EURACTIV.com. But Europe now needs to work to preserve its set of shared values and resolve the major challenges of migration and security, she warned
‘Bad news for enemies’: EU leaders officially launch defence pact
Flanked by soldiers in combat dress, European leaders inaugurated on Thursday (14 December) a landmark defence cooperation pact that EU Council President Donald Tusk said was "bad news for our enemies".
Tusk proposes two-year EU reform blitz, new working methods at summits
EU President Donald Tusk on Tuesday (17 October) proposed an ambitious timeline of 13 summits over the next two years to reboot the European Union after the shock of Brexit and other setbacks.
The defence of Europe comes before ‘European defence policy’
As politicians in France and Germany debate launching a common European defence policy, Jean-Thomas Lesueur rings the alarm over the worrying state of the continent’s military capabilities.
European defence and the Eurocorps model
Today it is clear that a robust European Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) is a must, and the time to enhance it has come, writes Lieutenant General Alfredo Ramirez.
EU takes first steps towards military HQ
EU foreign and defence ministers on Monday (6 March) agreed to create a joint command centre for the bloc’s military missions, a step towards more EU cooperation on security and defence.
Munich Security Conference: Start of a post-Western era?
The Western world order as we know it is at risk, according to the annual Munich Security Report. Euractiv Germany reports.
Western Mediterranean countries plead for increased NATO presence
Defence ministers from France, Italy, Portugal and Spain have called on NATO to increase its presence in their part of the world. Euractiv Spain reports.
EU defence in an age of uncertainty and crisis
The refugee crisis, the election of Donald Trump, the UK’s Brexit vote and the ever-present threat of terrorism, mean current conditions seem right for EU governments to take steps toward deeper military coordination or even integration, writes Richard Maher.
EU backs minimalist defence plan in effort not to undermine NATO
EU ministers approved a common defence plan yesterday (14 November) despite sharp differences over how far it should go, as Donald Trump's election win stoked fears about Washington's commitment to European security.
German defence minister wants EU military to match NATO
Germany's defence minister said yesterday (7 November) the European Union must modernise its military defence and security to match NATO's drive to beef up its own security forces in the wake of a major Russian build-up.
France, Germany to table defence plan at Bratislava ministerial meeting
At the informal defence ministerial in Bratislava starting today (27 September) France and Germany will make the case for the EU’s most ambitious defence plan in almost two decades, aiming to persuade sceptical easterners and avoid a showdown with Britain over its military future outside the bloc.
Juncker: Soft power is not enough for the EU
In the State of the Union speech he delivered today (14 September), Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker proposed new powers for the EU foreign affairs chief, and the start of a real defence effort, compatible with NATO.