The president of the European Commission called this Saturday, February 14, for the reactivation of the European Union’s (EU) mutual defense clause, in a speech in which she urged Europe to be more independent to guarantee its own security.
“I believe the time has come to breathe life into Europe’s mutual defense clause. Mutual defense is not an optional task for the EU […] It is our collective commitment to support each other in the event of aggression”, said Ursula von der Leyen in her speech at the Munich Security Conference.
At the conference, which began on Friday and runs until Sunday, the European official argued that a strong Europe “is a stronger transatlantic alliance”.
In the 62nd edition of the conference, considered the main global meeting of security policy experts, von der Leyen argued that Europe must “free itself from all taboos”, referring in particular to the use of the “mutual defense clause”, a collective commitment by European Union (EU) member states to defend themselves in the event of aggression.
At the Munich Security Conference, attended by more than 60 world leaders and around 100 foreign and defense ministers, the president of the European Commission highlighted that “the time has come to give life” to this clause, set out in European treaties.
The clause was introduced into the Lisbon Treaty in 2007in the so-called article 42, paragraph 7, according to which Member States of the European Union have “the obligation to provide aid and assistance by all means at their disposal” if another Member State is the victim of aggression on its territory.
Assistance may be military, but may also include diplomatic support or medical assistance.
However, Von der Leyen added that “this commitment only carries weight if it is based on trust and capacity” and pointed out that the EU must be faster in taking decisions.
“This may mean relying on the outcome of a qualified majority rather than unanimity.”he suggested, pointing out that, for this, it would not be necessary to change the rules of the community bloc, but that they also “have to be creative”.
The president of the community executive also highlighted the need to “formalize the beginning of new security partnerships” with countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland or Canada.
In this regard, von der Leyen reiterated that the EU “needs” a new security strategyin which all community policies – trade, finance, infrastructure or technologies – have “a clear security dimension in this new world order”.
“We need a new doctrine for this, with a simple objective: ensure that Europe can defend its own territory, its economy, its democracy and its way of life at any time”he stated.
Finally, the German politician and former Defense Minister urged “tear down the rigid wall that separates the civil and defense sectors” and the begin to consider the automotive, aerospace and heavy machinery industries “as a fundamental part of the defense value chain”.
In the intervention, the president of the European Commission added that Europe, which has depended on the United States for its defense for decades, must now “move to greater speed” and “assume its responsibilities.
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