Bruges, Belgium — In light of escalating global tensions, the Young European Federalists (JEF) Belgium, in collaboration with the Federalist Society at the College of Europe, organized a conference on March 15 to discuss the future of European defense. The event featured Domènec Ruiz Devesa, President of the Union of European Federalists (UEF) and former Member of the European Parliament, and Professor Dr. Frank Hoffmeister, professor at the Brussels School of Governance and Director of the Legal Department at the European External Action Service.
Global Context Necessitating European Defense
The conference was convened against a backdrop of significant geopolitical challenges. The ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine has resulted in the bombing of civilian areas and critical infrastructure. Concurrently, U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions have led many to question the U.S. commitment to NATO and its status as a reliable ally. This potential shift underscores the need for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its defense. In fact, even NATO’s new force model doctrine mandates that, in the event of an attack, European nations must mobilize 300,000 troops within one month and 500,000 within six months. Additionally, instability in regions such as South Africa and the Middle East further amplifies the necessity for a unified European defense strategy.
Proposals for a European Defense Union
Against this background, the conference on the future of European defence centered on how to make the EU more autonomous in matters of defence. Domènec Ruiz Devesa advocated for the creation of a European Defense Union (EDU), emphasizing several critical components:
Joint Defense Investment and Research: He highlighted the necessity for substantial joint defense investments, procurement, and research. Notably, Russia’s military expenditure, when calculated in purchasing power parity, has surpassed Europe’s combined defense spending in recent years, underscoring the urgency for enhanced investment.
Expansion of CSDP Missions: Ruiz Devesa proposed extending the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions to encompass territorial defense and security in neighboring regions, thereby enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Rapid Deployment Capacity: A cornerstone of his proposal was establishing a Rapid Deployment Capacity of 60,000 soldiers, envisioned as a 28th European Army, complementing the 27 national armies responsible for territorial defense. This force would be permanently available to the EU, rather than temporarily assigned by member states, aiming to reach operational status this year and progressively achieve the 60,000-soldier objective, as agreed upon in the Helsinki 1999 European Council.
Europeanization of Nuclear Capabilities: He suggested the Europeanization of French nuclear capabilities with shared financing from willing EU member states, aiming to bolster Europe’s deterrence posture.
Ruiz Devesa also expressed support for the European Commission’s initial proposals, such as the Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), and the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP). These initiatives aim to increase the joint development and procurement of defense equipment, aligning with the priority capabilities identified by the European Defence Agency (EDA). He emphasized that the lack of defense cooperation results in an estimated annual loss of €25 billion, highlighting the need for a more integrated approach.
Organizational and Financial Dimensions
From a strategic and operational perspective, the need for streamlined CSDP missions and the operationalization of the Rapid Deployment Capacity stood out. This force would be complemented by common planning and a Common Computerized Command, Control, Communications, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition (C4ISTAR) structure, constituting a federal-oriented defense framework by integrating European and national capabilities. He highlighted that, in accordance with Article 42.2 of the Treaty on the European Union, the end goal of “the progressive framing of a common Union defense policy” is the establishment of “a common defense” by a unanimous decision of the European Council, compatible with NATO. The mutual assistance clause of Article 42.7 TEU would be central to this defense architecture.
Financially, he proposed expanding the European Investment Bank’s mandate to issue EU federal bonds backed by own resources using the digital euro. Additionally, he suggested exempting defense investments from the deficit calculations of the Stability and Growth Pact when made in joint capabilities.
Navigating Treaty Framework Challenges
Professor Dr. Frank Hoffmeister addressed the complexities within the current treaty framework, particularly concerning unanimity requirements in the Council that can lead to decision-making paralysis. He highlighted that, alongside Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), implementing decisions governed by qualified majority voting under Article 31(2) of the Treaty on European Union could be utilized to overcome vetoes by individual member states. He noted that a pending case brought before the Court by the European Parliament against the Council, relating to the use of unanimity instead of qualified majority voting as regards implementing decisions, could be a significant development in this context.
Pathways to Defense Integration
The conference concluded with discussions on potential avenues for defense integration, including:
A unanimous decision by the European Council.
A coalition of member states sharing a common vision through PESCO.
Enhanced use of implementing decisions pursuant to Article 31(2) TEU.
As a last resort, an interim ad-hoc treaty governed by international law, signed by willing member states, to be integrated into the EU constitutional framework as soon as possible, similar to the Schengen Agreement and the European Stability Mechanism Treaty.
Engagement and Future Initiatives
The conference’s discussions coincided with the European Commission’s recently published white paper on European defense, underscoring the urgency for a unified defense strategy. JEF Belgium remains committed to advocating for institutional changes to bolster Europe’s defense capabilities. For those interested in participating, JEF Belgium organizes various activities across Belgium, with a significant presence in Brussels. Individuals can become members or follow their initiatives on social media platforms. The federalist manifesto on European defence can also be consulted here.
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