Brussels (Brussels Morning) – The EU Council agreed on security and defence priorities amid escalating threats. Strengthening the EU’s role, especially in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, is paramount. Urgent actions include enhancing defence capabilities and supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The EU Council agreed to conclusions on EU security and defence in the context of an unusual combination of threats and challenges, such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and raised tensions in the Middle East, the Sahel and other areas of the world.
What Are the Priorities for Strengthening EU Defence Capabilities?
EU Council states that since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified battle of aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, and founded on the Strategic Compass, as well as the Versailles Declaration in March 2022, the EU’s position as a security and defence actor has been enormously strengthened. The EU nonetheless needs to additionally increase its defence willingness and enhance its sovereignty. In its conclusions, the Council puts out the major priorities for the coming period that member nations are called on to enforce as a matter of urgency.
How Does the EU Support Ukraine Amid Escalating Tensions?
The EU is ever more reliable in its support of Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial goodness within its internationally acknowledged borders. In order to continue supplying Ukraine and its people with all the required political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic backing for as long as it takes and as intensely as required, the EU will operate all tools at its disposal, including the recently launched Ukraine Assistance Fund as part of the European Peace Facility (EPF) and training and advice via the European Union Military Assistance Mission in approval of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine).Â
The forthcoming signature of the EU’s security obligations to Ukraine is also highlighted, as well as continued efforts to address Ukraine’s urgent requirements, notably ammunition, missiles, air defence and artillery systems, and drones.
What Measures Are Taken to Ensure Defence Product Availability?
The Council conclusions highlight the need to ensure the availability of defence products and support the EU’s Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) so that it can deliver for the needs of member states’ armed forces, and partners where required. In this context, the Council also emphasises the vital need to enhance access to public and private finance for the EDTIB, and keeps the strengthening of collaboration, leading to advanced integration of the Ukrainian defence technical and industrial base into the EDTIB.
How Does the EU Combat Hybrid, Cyber, and FIMI Threats?
The Council also repeats the importance of maintaining the EU’s prevention, detection, deterrence, resilience and reaction to hybrid, FIMI, cyber threats and malicious activities targeting the EU, its member nations and partners with the development of trustworthy instruments such as Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox and EU Hybrid Toolbox.
The Council also recognises the importance of the EPF as a global agency in support of EU CFSP/CSDP objectives, permitting targeted security and defence assistance in reaction to the needs of partner countries. Furthermore, the Council urges member states to further contribute to the complete operationalisation of the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity by 2025 and to execute as a matter of urgency the Military Mobility Pledge 2024.
