About: European defence

What it takes for Europe to become a credible security actor

There is a unique opportunity to achieve a quantum leap in the way Europe supports its defence technological and industrial base, write Alessandro Profumo and Jan Pie. Alessandro Profumo is President of the Aerospace and Defence Industries Association (ASD Europe)...

Benelux’ view on the implementation of the Strategic Compass

Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine and the return of war to the European continent served to sharpen the needle of the EU's Strategic Compass, write Kajsa Ollongren, Ludivine Dedonder and François Bausch.

New EU defence initiatives for old political problems

In security and defence, let-downs garner more attention than successes. The EU Global Strategy is a perfect example, writes Raluca Csernatoni.

Don’t forget about Europe’s Northern Partners 

In designing the European security architecture, how can Norwegian and EU priorities in defence and security be prudently squared against one another to ensure that both sides mutually benefit from the partnership, ask Kinga Brudzinska and Lucia Rybnikárová.

How to further develop European security and defence cooperation

As the world struggles with a global pandemic, the US navigates its post-election reality and China’s role on a world stage is changing, European defence cooperation is ever more important. Poland, due to our very particular historic experience, is dedicating...

The budget deal and EU defence cooperation: What are the implications?

Most headlines on the EU budget deal will focus on the response to Covid-19. But the new budget will include billions for new EU defence initiatives, writes Niklas Novaky.

It’s time to vaccinate Europe’s defence budgets

Europe’s armed forces are rightfully being applauded for their efforts in limiting the disastrous effects of COVID-19, but the test of whether European militaries are truly valued will be measured over the next few years as pressure on defence budgets mount, write Daniel Fiott, Torben Schütz and Marcin Terlikowski.

Time for a European Defence Union

The case needs to be made for a back-up security order in Europe - guaranteed by Europe, alas without the US, writes Robert Steenland.

Military industry fund could encourage development and export of controversial weaponry

The EU is about to agree a shared military industry fund which will give billions to arms companies and exacerbate the global arms race. Presented as a key step to strengthen the EU, instead, it enshrines renewed prevalence of national interests in a hard-security context, writes Laëtitia Sédou.

More space for more Europe

2018 will be a crucial year to shape a stimulating new narrative for EU space policy. Jean-Loic Galle lists a couple of key points ahead of the 10th EU space policy conference taking place in Brussels on 23 and 24 January.

Time to re-energise Europe

Europe must not stand still and the Leaders Agenda is a step in the right direction. But we must seize the current window of opportunity to re-energise the EU by tackling multiple issues at once, argue Herman Van Rompuy and Janis A. Emmanouilidis.

Support for arms industry will not make the world a safer place

The proposal by the European Commission for a European Defence Fund signifies an unprecedented acceleration in the militarization of the European Union. The only one who stands to benefit is the arms industry – and its capacity to export. It is time the European Parliament wakes up and stops any further attempts to support the arms industry, says Bram Vranken.

Macron’s defence visions are suicidal for Poland

Poland can have only one answer to the French visions for a common approach in European defence, writes Andrzej Talaga. And that answer is no.

Why European defence research matters

Defence can no longer be looked at simply from a national perspective. European defence is stronger than the sum of its parts and it needs greater cooperation in defence innovation, in cutting-edge capabilities, in research and technology. And it needs to happen now, argues Jorge Domecq.

Brexit: an opportunity to be exploited

As the referendum looms large on the horizon, there are two ways of facing the threat of Brexit: despondency or trying to make something positive out of the situation, writes Robert Cox.