European Union defense ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the latest security

Some countries remain hesitant about military mobility (Dursin Idemir / Anatolia)

European Union defense ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the latest security and defense developments in the EU. Such as the European Defense Cooperation Initiative, the Military Mobility File on European Territory, EU-NATO Cooperation, as well as the recent proposals made by the European Defense, Security and Foreign Policy Coordinator, Federica Mugherini, concerning the establishment of the European Defense Fund and the Peace Support System. The meeting, which was decided at the last minute, is to prepare for the European summit, which will bring together EU leaders on June 28 and 29 in Brussels. On the sidelines of the meeting, an agreement is expected to be signed between about a dozen countries to establish the European intervention initiative launched by French President Emmanuel Macaron on 26 September 2017.
Enhanced cooperation initiative
Permanent cooperation is the title of the European Defense Cooperation Initiative adopted in the face of US criticism on December 17, 2017. All EU member states participate in this initiative, with the exception of three countries - Denmark, Malta and Britain. The ministers are expected to adopt a set of work rules for this initiative, particularly in terms of project submission, implementation, role of participants, coordination, monitoring and progress reports.
"Ministers today adopt a set of rules of action for the European Defense Cooperation Initiative"
"The security and defense cooperation of the EU is based on three strategic priorities: responding to crises and external conflicts, building the capacity of partners, protecting the EU and its citizens," explains defense expert Leonor Hoppe. Adopting them today is part of the specific actions taken to achieve these goals. " "These rules have been set with great flexibility, to give a great deal of flexibility to each project and to implement it properly," he said, "and the idea of ​​other countries being involved in the defense initiative that has been put forward by several countries has been postponed." To date, Member States have agreed to a preliminary list of 17 projects on training, capacity-building and operational readiness for defense.
Military Mobility
Ministers are also expected to address the assessment of progress in military mobility within European borders, focusing on effective actions and short- and long-term objectives to remove barriers to movement. These include the issuance of diplomatic licenses and road passes more quickly, and the establishment of national focal points. According to the draft final statement of the meeting, "in light of the changing security situation, it is important that the transfer of personnel and military equipment quickly in Europe."
This point is expected to be raised in the debate with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who is part of the meeting. "This issue is a key point in the file of EU-NATO cooperation and has a very symbolic political aspect of strengthening the European contribution to NATO and the security of the European continent," says Leonor Hoppe. Similar agreements are expected between NATO allies at its summit on July 11 and 12 in Brussels.
"Even though all countries consider the project to be important, there is a group of countries that are still hesitant." Greece and Cyprus are not eager to grant freedom of movement to foreign powers such as Turkish troops. Removing obstacles to military mobility is not an easy matter. " "Also at the technical level, modernizing roads and standardizing mobility systems, whether on railways, rivers or elsewhere, is a complex issue," he notes.
Peace Support System
As for the proposal presented on 13 June by Federica Mujerini on the European peace system, this will be his first European-level discussion. It provides for the establishment of a new European Union mechanism, beginning in 2021, to allow for external intervention and stability in countries in crisis. However, this proposal did not have the opportunity to have access to all European officials. A European diplomat for the "New Arab" summarizes this, saying, "We did not have time to read the proposal, but so far it has raised many reservations." Some countries, like France, oppose this proposal in principle because it pays to give member states the power Less in a sensitive area. "Others, particularly countries with a general deficit, such as Greece or a hard-line budget such as the Netherlands, question the added value of this system, especially in the size of the budget to be allocated to it.
European-Atlantic Cooperation
"Stoltenberg is participating in part of the meeting of European ministers to assess cooperation between the European Union and NATO"
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is attending a meeting of European ministers to assess progress in EU-NATO cooperation and preparations for the NATO summit on July 11-12 in Brussels. "Cooperation between the European Union and NATO currently includes a total of 74 concrete actions, covering areas such as hybrid threats, Internet security systems, defense capabilities and the defense manufacturing sector," explains Leonor Hoppe. Topics of cooperation also include the fight against terrorism and the promotion of the role of women, peace and security.
Tunisia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were identified as pilot countries to demonstrate closer cooperation between the two organizations. "Symbolically because one is located in the south and the other in the Balkans
"The EU and NATO's capacity-building is expected to focus on three areas: strategic communications, advice and support for reform, and coordination between donor countries and institutions," said a European diplomat.