European Union to boost defense cooperation with rapid response capabilities EU battle groups 211213

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Defence & Security News - Europe
 
 
Saturday, December 21, 2013 09:46 AM
 
European Union to boost defense cooperation with rapid response capabilities and EU battle groups.
European Union (EU) leaders on Friday, December 20, 2013, called for further development of the 28-member bloc's military capabilities despite acknowledging their budget constraints. In the first EU summit for five years to examine defence policies, the green light was given to military projects such as remotely piloted aircraft systems, or drones, to be realized by 2020 to 2025, air-to-air refueling, satellite communications and cyber defence.
     
European Union (EU) leaders on Friday, December 20, 2013, called for further development of the 28-member bloc's military capabilities despite acknowledging their budget constraints. In the first EU summit for five years to examine defence policies, the green light was given to military projects such as remotely piloted aircraft systems, or drones, to be realized by 2020 to 2025, air-to-air refueling, satellite communications and cyber defence.
Although the EU agenda is strained and dominated by crisis-related issues, Euro-defense has lately become a staple issue in European politics.
     

In a joint statement, the Council also emphasized "the need to improve EU rapid response capabilities", including "EU battle groups" that could be deployed to conflict zones and tackle issues such as illegal migration, organized crime and terrorism.

"A stronger common security and defence policy is not a luxury. It is in today's world a necessity. It is also a pre-condition for a successful foreign and security policy," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told the summit.

However, the leaders acknowledged that defence budgets in Europe were dwindling, thereby "limiting the ability to develop, deploy and sustain military capabilities."

European Parliament President Martin Schulz pointed that while EU member states were spending 251 billion euros (343 billion U.S. dollars) on defence in 2001, the corresponding figure was 190 billion euros in 2012.

"In many cases we would be quite incapable of carrying out a military operation without the support of the U.S.," he added.

While France's request for EU funding for future military interventions, such as its current operation in the Central African Republic, was not mentioned in the conclusion, Barroso did announce support of 50 million euros to the African-led military mission.