16 September 2009 – The Assembly held a hearing in Brussels today on the Euro-Atlantic partnership and EU/NATO relations. Mr Sven BISCOP, Director of the Security and Global Governance Programme at the Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, presented the recent study that he co-authored with Simon SERFATY: “A Shared Security Strategy for a Euro-Atlantic Partnership of Equals – A report of the global dialogue between the European Union and the United States” (Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Washington, July 2009), which is divided into three parts: “1. Learning to Say Yes; 2. Converging Visions; 3. No Time for a Time Out”.

Mr Robert WALTER, MP, President of the Assembly, recalled the recent political positions taken by the ESDA and set out in its recommendations on “New opportunities for EU-US foreign and security policy cooperation – reply to the annual report of the Council”, in a report submitted by Mr Xuclà i Costa (Spain, Liberal Group) on behalf of the Political Committee and adopted at the June 2009 plenary session (see www.assembly-weu.org).

During the hearing members of the Assembly put questions to Professor BISCOP on the following matters: implementation of the Lisbon Treaty, in particular the criteria for permanent structured cooperation; collective defence; interoperability of forces; the disparity in defence expenditure and procurement policy in European countries; parliamentary scrutiny of the ESDP; and public opinion.   

Mr BISCOP underlined that it was not possible for security organisations to decide in advance which one would be responsible for any given operation. It would always be an ad hoc decision depending on the specific context of each crisis. The most appropriate organisation would then be chosen (either NATO, the EU, the OSCE, the UN or an ad hoc coalition).

On the CFSP, Mr BISCOP was disappointed by the outcome of the debate on the implementation of the European Security Strategy.  It did not go far enough. There was a growing awareness in the United States that a strong ESDP could help the USA. The ball was now in the European camp.

In conclusion to his analysis of transatlantic relations, he stressed the importance for both Europeans and Americans together to adopt, as of now, global approaches to common challenges such as climate change and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. That way they could find effective solutions to future problems, both for themselves and for the rest of the world.

At a previous hearing in Brussels in March 2009 the Assembly investigated the question of strategic air transport. Louis GALLOIS, Chief Executive of EADS, and Allan COOK, President of the AeroSpace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) and Chief Executive of Cobham PLC, briefed Assembly members on the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for the European strategic air transport industry. Among the subjects on the agenda were the delays and cost overruns in the A400M Tactical and Strategic Airlifter programme and the attitude of the new United States Administration with regard to the KC 45A (based on the A330 – a Multi-Role Tanker Transport) deal.