欧洲安全研究所-战略罗盘-欧盟安全和防务的新方向？（英）-2021.12-66页_1mb

Summary of "New Bearings for EU Security and Defence?"

Core Content

This Chaillot Paper, published by the European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS), provides an in-depth analysis of the EU's security and defence policy in preparation for the adoption of the Strategic Compass in early 2022. It aims to support the implementation of the Compass by offering policy recommendations and insights from 11 expert contributors and a survey of 120 individuals in the field.

The report is structured around four chapters, each corresponding to one of the four "baskets" of the Strategic Compass: crisis management, resilience, capabilities, and partnerships. It highlights the need for the EU to adopt a more unified and strategic approach to security and defence, given the intensifying global threats and strategic competition.

Main Views and Key Information

1. Enhancing the EU's Ability to Act

• The EU has a long history of conducting civilian and military missions and operations, primarily in low-intensity environments.
• The Strategic Compass should guide the EU in adapting its crisis management and capacity building tools to address new and evolving threats.
• The EU must move beyond its traditional "permissiveness" in mission planning, as the strategic environment is becoming more hostile.
• The Compass should also clarify the scope of crisis management and capacity building, especially in the context of strategic competition and non-traditional threats such as those at sea or related to climate change.
• The EU needs to incentivise Member States to commit to CSDP missions and operations.

2. Securing Europe and Enhancing Resilience

• Resilience is a key theme, with the EU identifying several pressing tasks over the next 5–10 years, including countering hybrid threats, cyber defence, protection of critical infrastructure, counter-terrorism, public health assistance, border management, and security-related effects of climate change.
• The EU should adopt a broader approach to resilience, going beyond the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) to include areas such as maritime, space, and cyber domains.
• The use of existing concepts like the Coordinated Maritime Presences should be expanded to new regions such as the Indo-Pacific.
• The potential applicability of Article 42.7 TEU (mutual assistance clause) and Article 222 TFEU (solidarity clause) is highlighted, with over 90% of survey respondents agreeing that the EU should be prepared to support Member States in these scenarios.

3. Investing in Capabilities and Technologies

• The EU faces significant civilian and military capability gaps and needs to invest in air capabilities, enablers (space, cyber, training), and naval capabilities (frigates, submarines, unmanned vehicles).
• Space-based capacities are particularly important, as they are essential for military operations, monitoring arms trafficking, and observing environmental and climactic changes.
• The EU should consider developing capabilities beyond CSDP terms to meet its strategic ambitions.
• The EU is also investing in dual-use transport infrastructure to improve military mobility across Europe.

4. Deepening the EU's Partnerships

• The Strategic Compass offers an opportunity to reassess and strengthen partnerships with international organisations such as NATO, UN, AU, and ASEAN.
• There is a growing recognition that partnerships are shaped by shared values and interests, not just transactional relationships.
• The EU should reframe its approach to strategic partnerships, including engagement with non-state actors such as NGOs and private sector entities.
• The Compass should help solidify the conceptualisation of partnerships and ensure that they are aligned with the EU's strategic goals.

Key Recommendations

• The EU should reassess the feasibility and necessity of its current crisis management and capacity building tasks in light of the EU Threat Analysis.
• A more flexible and scalable approach to mission mandates is needed, including the use of Article 44 TEU.
• The EU should leverage the European Peace Facility to enhance its security and defence operations.
• The Strategic Compass should define a clear vision for the future of CSDP and the EU's security and defence posture.
• The EU needs to strengthen its resilience across all strategic domains, not just traditional ones.
• Investment in capabilities should be prioritised, with a focus on air, naval, and enabler capacities.
• The EU should deepen its partnerships and reframe its strategic relationships to reflect shared values and interests.

Implementation and Context

• The Strategic Compass is expected to be adopted by the European Council in March 2022 and implemented by 2030.
• The first draft was presented by HR/VP Josep Borrell in November 2021, and Member States are expected to provide feedback until the end of February 2022.
• The report is based on insights from 11 experts and a survey of 120 individuals from research institutions, think tanks, and universities.
• The survey response rate was 63%, with responses divided into multiple choice and open-ended questions, which are reflected in the report.

Conclusion

This Chaillot Paper serves as a key contribution to the Strategic Compass process, providing a strategic overview of the EU's security and defence challenges and offering policy considerations for the EU and its Member States. It highlights the need for a more unified, flexible, and forward-looking approach to security and defence, in line with the evolving global and regional threats. The report also underscores the importance of capabilities, resilience, and partnerships in ensuring the EU's security and defence effectiveness in the coming decade.