Today's Date:

European Defense

Speech by Michèle Alliot-Marie, Minister of Defense, at the National Assembly National Defense and Armed Forces’ Commission’s 2nd summer school, on “The European Union’s strategic autonomy”.

Les Embiez, September 7, 2004

(...)

Europe’s defence policy is a concrete, coherent reality with some specific attributes. EU member States have established themselves on the ground as major contributors to NATO operations, capable, should the need arise, of taking over from the Alliance.

Europeans undeniably have specific expertise in crisis management. This is essential for our strategic autonomy and our ability to uphold our approach to current and future challenges, which it’s up to us to bring to the fore.

EU/NATO/FRANCE

In defence matters, Europe must now get rid of its hang-ups about its relationship with NATO, because it brings much to NATO.

Today, it is predominantly Europeans who form the backbone of NATO-led operations. In Kosovo, the three most important contributors to KFOR are Germany, Italy and France. They alone make up over half the troops deployed. The same applies in Afghanistan to ISAF, more than two thirds of which consists of troops from EU member States. For the first time, Eurocorps HQ is also commanding this operation. In Bosnia, out of SFOR’s total of 8,500 men, 5,800 – i.e. more than two thirds – come from European Union member countries.

France, especially, is actively contributing to this. Both NATO operations in Afghanistan and Kosovo are currently commanded by French generals. This involvement in the operations justifies Europeans, and especially France, concurrently being fully involved in the reform of the Atlantic Alliance.

Europe is now in a position to take over from NATO when this is necessary. Over the past few years, the European Union has acquired indisputable operational credibility. When I arrived at the Defence Ministry, the idea that the EU would carry out peace-support operations left many perplexed. Since then, Operation Concordia has proved the EU's ability to use military force in operations using NATO assets. In Operation Artemis Europe also showed its ability to act totally autonomously in a tough situation. Because of its size, military and civilian aspects and high profile, the operation to relieve SFOR in Bosnia will be a significant qualitative leap forward at the end of 2004. It will be a new opportunity to prove our credibility on the ground and the high quality of the cooperation between the European Union and NATO in the framework of the “Berlin Plus” agreements. Let me remind you that neither organization is subordinate to or replaces the other; each has a role to play depending on the situation.

EUROPEAN DEFENCE CAPABILITY

2003 was a major turning-point in the concrete establishment of the European defence capability.

On the ground, the European Union has proved the soundness of its approach to common security. It has proved itself capable of providing responses tailored to different challenges.

None of the current threats, as the Europeans well know, can be countered by purely military means. The European Union is capable of addressing crisis situations holistically, at both civilian and military levels, because of its particular expertise.

ESS

Europe has developed specific expertise in security and defence policy, its own concept of crisis management. With the European Security Strategy (ESS), the EU now shares a common interpretation of the risk and the capabilities for addressing them. We have thus established that the Europeans increasingly see eye to eye on the way to address threats. To plan and conduct its operations, the EU has given itself its own legal structure. In 2002, it developed a "concept of the use of force". The forces we engage thus have specific instructions on the rules of conduct in EU-led military operations. This is being borne out on the ground. The Europeans can call on the whole spectrum of available assets and not just military ones. So European Union operations can have many aspects: military intervention, police mission, civilian assistance, humanitarian and also reconstruction aid.

EU OPERATIONS/FIVE POTENTIAL ATTRIBUTES

The five potential attributes of these operations are:

- their rapidity; this will increase even more with the joint "Battle Groups" [also referred to as "Tactical Groups"] currently being set up;

- establishment of their deployment window from the outset. We are making it a point of honour to meet deadlines;

- the fact that this also involves deciding on relief arrangements well in advance and having a clear idea from the outset of the sequence of phases in the exit strategy.

The new European gendarmerie force will (...) be particularly useful during disengagement phases and the transition from military to civilian operations.

Finally, the last attribute, the fruit of long experience, the very good popular image of the European soldier. To keep good relations with the local populace, we attach great importance to not upsetting people, to the psychological aspects of the problems.

This is where Europe has unique expertise: we possess a genuine exit strategy "know-how" which we must cultivate.

When it comes to achieving greater strategic autonomy, the European Union has considerable potential to establish itself as a major player in international security.

The Europeans’ contribution must nevertheless be commensurate with this potential. For this we must develop our capabilities and increase the coherence of our efforts.

EDA

The European Defence Agency will help us strengthen our military capabilities. It will allow us to streamline our efforts, establish our needs, pool our assets and prepare for the future.

Because the emergence of a genuine European defence industry is also essential for our strategic autonomy, France must have a high-performance industry, capable of forging solid European partnerships. To this end, my ministry is conducting an acquisition policy based on the principle of competitive autonomy. We also need to improve our planning and command capabilities. Thanks to the European planning cell we shall be able to improve our forecasting and organization of future EU external operations.

TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONSHIP

Throughout this process, it's important to work in harmony with our different strategic partners, particularly with the United States. The transatlantic relationship is irreplaceable.
There's a real need for Europe and the United States to complement one another, which requires the EU to be a credible player and influential partner. (...)./.