The EU in Kosovo*: Consolidating European Military and Defence Identity

For decades, the European security policy has been an open question, as its highly political relevance never conceded a fully supranational approach that would enable comprehensive interoperability. All security aspects are grounded in an intergovernmental logic dating back to the conception of the ‘second pillar’ established in Maastricht in 1992. The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) remains ‘common’ only in some aspects, leaving wide discretion to a single MS. The same was likely to be the case for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Being specifically designed as the military component of the CFSP, the CSDP was decisive in offering Europe the opportunity of independently taking charge of its security issues on the military level by enhancing interoperable mechanisms among national forces.

Comments Off on The EU in Kosovo*: Consolidating European Military and Defence Identity

The State of the European Union Address 2021 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and what it means for European Defence and Security

A couple of weeks ago, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gave her annual address on the State of the European Union. The EU was praised for its impressive vaccination rate and its good start toward recovery from one of the most intense crises the continent has ever faced. A myriad of topics is addressed in Ursula von der Leyen’s speech. This short paper will focus on the mentions that affect EU Security and Defence directly or indirectly (Von der Leyen, 2021).

Comments Off on The State of the European Union Address 2021 by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and what it means for European Defence and Security

The Effectiveness of the EU Policy in the Eastern Neighborhood

Since 2004, the European Union (EU) policy towards the Eastern neighbourhood countries has been dominated by the European Commission through the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). (Gänzle, 2008, 6) Article 8…

Comments Off on The Effectiveness of the EU Policy in the Eastern Neighborhood

Collaborative Procurement and European Defence Fund in the context of Strategic Autonomy Case Study on Autonomous Weapons

The European Union’s foreign policy affairs and security and defence matters have always been the areas in which progressing and ad- vancing has proved to be a challenging task. Despite the integration achievements accom- plished in other EU fields, such as the Sin- gle Market, the European Monetary Union, or the Common Agriculture Policy; the cul- tural, identity, historical, and geographical differences between the MS have prevented the consolidation of a common strategic cul- ture. In this context, as the main international events of the last years have proved, the EU is still unable to carry out military operations outside its borders, not even when the stabili- ty of the European project itself is being called into question and challenged.

Comments Off on Collaborative Procurement and European Defence Fund in the context of Strategic Autonomy Case Study on Autonomous Weapons

nEUROn Integration: Strategic Enhancement of Land Force Capabilities

Advancements in augmented battalion structures in contemporary military doctrine require urgent interoperability and integration with advanced combat aid systems. A prime example of the intersectional application of modern technological advancements in military structure reform is highlighted in drone technology, particularly in the regional developments of the European drone industry, in how integration will be implemented in line with autonomous European doctrine, and EU developments of expeditionary deployment. The core of this kind of European multilateral technological development can be analysed astutely within the nEUROn drone programme, a joint-funded project undertaken by France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland (French Senate, 2005).

Comments Off on nEUROn Integration: Strategic Enhancement of Land Force Capabilities