Policy Paper 63
Strategic Priorities for EU Defence Policy
Daniel Keohane, Head of Strategic Affairs, FRIDE —
If the EU is to have an effective foreign policy in the future, it will need a clear sense of its strategic priorities, and what it is prepared to do through its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The combination of a more turbulent neighbourhood, the US re-balance toward Asia, the shift in global military power and their own deep defence budget cuts should encourage EU governments to cooperate more closely on defence matters. However, assessing how global military power is changing, and how that may impact upon European security and foreign policy interests deserves much more attention from EU governments. In future, alongside a geographic focus on Europe’s broad neighbourhood and helping to tackle some key threats to European security, CSDP should contribute to protecting vital European interests as well as projecting European values.
This Policy Paper is a contribution of Daniel Keohane (Fride) to the project Think Global – Act European (TGAE). Thinking strategically about the EU’s external action directed by Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute (report available in March 2013, dir. Elvire Fabry, Senior Research Fellow, Notre Europe – Jacques Delors Institute).
If the EU is to have an effective foreign policy in the future, it will need a clear sense of its strategic priorities, and what it is prepared to do through its Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The combination of a more turbulent neighbourhood, the US re-balance toward Asia, the shift in global military power and their own deep defence budget cuts should encourage EU governments to cooperate more closely on defence matters. However, assessing how global military power is changing, and how that may impact upon European security and foreign policy interests deserves much more attention from EU governments.
In future, alongside a geographic focus on Europe’s broad neighbourhood and helping to tackle some key threats to European security, CSDP should contribute to protecting vital European interests as well as projecting European values.
Before the publication of the final report presenting the key recommendations of the 16 think tanks involved in the project, 5 series of Policy Papers address the following key challenges: CSDP, EU neighbourhood, strategic resources, migration and economic policy.
SUR LE MÊME THÈME
ON THE SAME THEME
PUBLICATIONS
White Paper: what prospects for a European armament policy?

Towards an EU–Ukraine alliance: A plan for an EU–Ukraine Joint Training Mission

The EU could and should put an end to unanimity when it comes to sanctions

MÉDIAS
MEDIAS
« Pologne, la puissance européenne de 2025 ? »

Nicole Gnesotto, historienne : « D’un pacifisme structurel, l’Europe doit passer à un réarmement solide »

L’OTAN demande aux entreprises européennes de se préparer à un “scénario de guerre” : concrètement, de quoi la France est-elle capable ?

ÉVÉNEMENTS
EVENTS
Euroquestions #67 | European defence in the face of war in Ukraine [FR]

Académie Notre Europe | Session in Brussels [FR]

Euroquestions 56 | How can the European Union arm Ukraine?

Euroquestions #55 | European foreign and defense policy tested by the war in Ukraine [FR]

Euroquestions | Franco-German relations: 2023, year of recovery? [FR]

Euroquestions | Is war in Ukraine putting cybersecurity at risk in Europe?

Euroquestions | War in Ukraine : the European Union’s response, beyond sanctions [FR]

EUROPEAN DIPLOMACY AND THE UNION’S EXTERNAL ACTION [FR]

Académie Notre Europe – L’Europe Commerciale et de la Défense

Copenhagen, 16 September 2019 – Prospects and Challenges in European Security

Lille, 25 octobre 2018 – Europe of defense in a world of bullies

Blois, 12 October 2018 – Cooperation, competition or war? Globalization in all its States
