EU unites behind stronger security and defence plan

(BRUSSELS) - The EU Council gave formal approval Monday to its 'strategic compass', its ambitious plan to strengthen the EU's security and defence policy by 2030 in the wake of Russia's war with Ukraine.

The Strategic Compass provides a shared assessment of the strategic environment in which the EU is operating and of the threats and challenges the Union faces. The document makes concrete and actionable proposals, with a very precise timetable for implementation, in order to improve the EU's ability to act decisively in crises and to defend its security and its citizens.

The objective of the Strategic Compass is to make the EU a stronger and more capable security provider. The EU's ability to protect its citizens is seen as all the more important at a time when war has returned to Europe, following the unjustified and unprovoked Russian aggression against Ukraine, as well as of major geopolitical shifts. The aim of the Strategic Compass is to enhance the EU's strategic autonomy and its ability to work with partners to safeguard its values and interests.

A stronger and more capable EU in security and defence is seen as complementary to NATO, which remains the foundation of collective defence for its members.

"The threats are rising and the cost of inaction is clear," said the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell: " The Strategic Compass is a guide for action. It sets out an ambitious way forward for our security and defence policy for the next decade. It will help us face our security responsibilities, in front of our citizens and the rest of the world. If not now, then when?"

The Compass is structured around four pillars: act, invest, partner and secure.

Act

In order to be able to act rapidly and robustly whenever a crisis erupts, with partners if possible and alone when necessary, the EU will:

• establish a strong EU Rapid Deployment Capacity of up to 5000 troops for different types of crises
• be ready to deploy 200 fully equipped CSDP mission experts within 30 days, including in complex environments
• conduct regular live exercises on land and at sea
• enhance military mobility
• reinforce the EU's civilian and military CSDP (Common Defence and Security Policy) missions and operations by promoting a rapid and more flexible decision-making process , acting in a more robust way and ensuring greater financial solidarity
• make full use of the European Peace Facility to support partners

Secure

In order to strengthen its ability to anticipate, deter and respond to current and fast-emerging threats and challenges, and safeguard the EU's security interest, the EU will:

• boost its intelligence analysis capacities
• develop Hybrid Toolbox and Response Teams bringing together different instruments to detect and respond to a broad range of hybrid threats
• further develop the Cyber Diplomatic Toolbox and set up an EU Cyber Defence Policy to be better prepared for and respond to cyberattacks
• develop a Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference Toolbox
• develop an EU Space Strategy for Security and Defence
• strengthen the EU's role as a maritime security actor

Invest

Member states have committed to substantially enhance their defence expenditures to match our collective ambition to reduce critical military and civilian capability gaps and strengthen our European Defence Technological and Industrial Base. The EU will:

• exchange on national objectives on increased and improved defence spending to match our security needs
• provide further incentives for member states to engage in collaborative capability development and jointly invest in strategic enablers and next generation capabilities to operate on land, at sea, in the air, in the cyber domain and in outer space
• boost defence technological innovation to fill strategic gaps and reduce technological and industrial dependencies

Partner

In order to address common threats and challenges, the EU will:

• strengthen cooperation with strategic partners such as NATO, the UN and regional partners, including the OSCE, AU and ASEAN
• develop more tailored bilateral partnerships with like-minded countries and strategic partners, such as the US, Canada, Norway, the UK, Japan and others
• develop tailored partnerships in the Western Balkans, our eastern and southern neighbourhood, Africa, Asia and Latin America, including through enhancing dialogue and cooperation, promoting participation in CSDP missions and operations and supporting capacity- building

A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, 21 March 2022

EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (EEAS factsheet)

A Strategic Compass for the EU (EEAS factsheet)

A background for the Strategic Compass (EEAS)