{"id":100008,"date":"2022-03-24T03:00:54","date_gmt":"2022-03-24T02:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/?p=100008"},"modified":"2022-03-24T07:58:32","modified_gmt":"2022-03-24T06:58:32","slug":"a-strategic-compass-for-a-stronger-eu-security-and-defence-in-the-next-decade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cde.ual.es\/en\/a-strategic-compass-for-a-stronger-eu-security-and-defence-in-the-next-decade\/","title":{"rendered":"A Strategic Compass for a stronger EU security and defence in the next decade"},"content":{"rendered":"
Today the Council<\/strong>\u00a0has formally\u00a0approved the Strategic Compass<\/strong>, at a time when we witness the return of war in Europe.<\/div>\n
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The Compass gives the European Union an\u00a0ambitious plan of action<\/strong>\u00a0for strengthening the EU’s security and defence policy<\/strong>\u00a0by 2030.<\/p>\n

The more hostile security environment requires us to\u00a0make a quantum leap forward<\/strong>\u00a0and increase our capacity and willingness to act, strengthen our resilience, and invest more and better in our defence capabilities.<\/p>\n

The strength of our Union lies in unity, solidarity and determination. The objective of the Strategic Compass is to make the\u00a0EU a stronger and more capable security provider<\/strong>. The EU needs to be able to protect its citizens and to contribute to international peace and security. This is all the more important at a time when war has returned to Europe, following the unjustified and unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as of major geopolitical shifts. This Strategic Compass will enhance the EU\u2019s strategic autonomy and its ability to work with partners to safeguard its values and interests.<\/p>\n

A\u00a0stronger and more capable EU in security and defence<\/strong>\u00a0will contribute positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to NATO, which remains the foundation of collective defence for its members. It will also intensify support for the global rules-based order, with the United Nations at its core.<\/p>\n

\"Josep<\/p>\n

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The threats are rising and the cost of inaction is clear. The Strategic Compass is a guide for action. It sets out an ambitious way forward for our security and defence policy for the next decade. It will help us face our security responsibilities, in front of our citizens and the rest of the world. If not now, then when?<\/p>\n

Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Strategic Compass provides a shared assessment of the\u00a0strategic environment<\/strong>\u00a0in which the EU is operating and of the\u00a0threats and challenges<\/strong>\u00a0the Union faces. The document makes concrete and actionable proposals, with a very precise timetable for implementation, in order to\u00a0improve the EU’s ability to act decisively<\/strong>\u00a0in crises and to defend its security and its citizens.<\/p>\n

The Compass covers all the aspects of the security and defence policy and is structured around four pillars:\u00a0act<\/strong>,\u00a0invest<\/strong>,\u00a0partner<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0secure<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Act<\/h4>\n

In order to be able to act rapidly and robustly whenever a crisis erupts, with partners if possible and alone when necessary, the EU will:<\/p>\n

– establish a strong\u00a0EU Rapid Deployment Capacity<\/strong>\u00a0of up to 5000 troops<\/strong>\u00a0for different types of crises<\/p>\n

– be ready to deploy\u00a0200<\/strong>\u00a0fully equipped CSDP mission experts<\/strong>\u00a0within 30 days, including in complex environments<\/p>\n

– conduct regular\u00a0live exercises on land and at sea<\/strong><\/p>\n

– enhance\u00a0military mobility<\/strong><\/p>\n

– reinforce the EU’s\u00a0civilian and military CSDP\u00a0<\/strong>(Common Defence and Security Policy)\u00a0missions and operations<\/strong>\u00a0by promoting a rapid and more flexible decision-making process , acting in a more robust way and ensuring greater financial solidarity<\/p>\n

– make full use of the\u00a0European Peace Facility<\/strong>\u00a0to support partners<\/p>\n

Secure<\/h4>\n

In order to strengthen its ability to anticipate, deter and respond to current and fast-emerging threats and challenges, and safeguard the EU’s security interest, the EU will:<\/p>\n

– boost its\u00a0intelligence\u00a0<\/strong>analysis capacities<\/p>\n

– develop\u00a0Hybrid Toolbox and Response Teams<\/strong>\u00a0bringing together different instruments to detect and respond to a broad range of hybrid threats<\/p>\n

– further develop the\u00a0Cyber Diplomatic Toolbox and set up an EU Cyber Defence Policy<\/strong>\u00a0to be better prepared for and respond to cyberattacks<\/p>\n

– develop a\u00a0Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference<\/strong>\u00a0Toolbox<\/p>\n

– develop an\u00a0EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n

– strengthen the EU\u2019s role as a\u00a0maritime security actor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Invest<\/h4>\n

Member states have committed to\u00a0substantially<\/strong>\u00a0enhance their defence expenditures<\/strong>\u00a0to match our collective ambition to reduce critical military and civilian capability gaps and\u00a0strengthen our European Defence Technological and Industrial Base<\/strong>. The EU will:<\/p>\n

– exchange on national\u00a0objectives<\/strong>\u00a0on increased and improved defence spending<\/strong>\u00a0to match our security needs<\/p>\n

– provide further incentives for member states to engage in collaborative capability development and jointly invest in\u00a0strategic enablers<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0next generation capabilities<\/strong>\u00a0to operate on land, at sea, in the air, in the cyber domain and in outer space<\/p>\n

–\u00a0boost<\/strong>\u00a0defence technological innovation<\/strong>\u00a0to fill strategic gaps and\u00a0reduce\u00a0<\/strong>technological and industrial<\/strong>\u00a0dependencies<\/strong><\/p>\n

Partner<\/h4>\n

In order to address common threats and challenges, the EU will:<\/p>\n

– strengthen cooperation with strategic partners such as\u00a0NATO<\/strong>, the\u00a0UN<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0regional partners<\/strong>, including the OSCE, AU and ASEAN<\/p>\n

– develop more tailored\u00a0bilateral partnerships with like-minded countries<\/strong>\u00a0and strategic partners, such as the US, Canada, Norway, the UK, Japan and others<\/p>\n

– develop\u00a0tailored<\/strong>\u00a0partnerships\u00a0<\/strong>in the Western Balkans, our eastern and southern neighbourhood, Africa, Asia and Latin America, including through enhancing dialogue and cooperation, promoting\u00a0participation in CSDP missions and operations and supporting capacity- building<\/strong><\/p>\n

Background and next steps<\/h4>\n

The first version of the Strategic Compass was tabled by the High Representative in November 2021, based on the first ever threat analysis to which the intelligence services of the 27 EU member states contributed and a structured dialogue phase amongst EU member states, EU institutions and experts. Successive versions were discussed in February and March 2022 to reflect the debate between member states and to take into account the Commission’s package on defence and space of 15 February and the latest international developments, including in particular Russia\u2019s military aggression against Ukraine. It contributes directly to the implementation of the Versailles agenda.<\/p>\n

Once approved, the Strategic Compass is then expected to be endorsed by the European Council on 24-25 March 2022.<\/p>\n