The CSDP will be strengthened by the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty
Paris, 1 December 2009 – On Tuesday the outgoing Swedish Presidency of the European Union welcomed the progress made in the area of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), saying it would be strengthened by the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.
Addressing the European Security and Defence Assembly (ESDA), Mr Håkan Jevrell, Swedish State Secretary for Defence, recalled that one of the main priorities of the last six months had been to strengthen the operational capabilities and flexibility of the European battlegroups in which the EU had “invested time, money and resources”.
Mr Jevrell pointed out that while the battlegroups could be deployed within 10 days, none had ever been deployed “even though there might have been situations where it was called for”, adding that this non-use could be explained by a lack of “political will” on the part of the member states. “If resources are committed, but never used, the European citizens will start to raise questions”, he said, explaining that the member states had “different concepts” as regards the battlegroups. He also called for greater cooperation between the two battlegroups on standby.
Mr Jevrell stressed the importance of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty for strengthening the CSDP. With the creation of the post of High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the new European External Action Service (EEAS), Europe’s foreign and security policy will become more effective.
At the last European Council, the EU invited the future High Representative to present a proposal on how the EEAS should be organised with a view to implementing a Council decision by next April at the latest.
Mr Jevrell also said that in the course of an informal meeting, the EU defence ministers had focused primarily on “article 42.7 on mutual aid in case of an armed aggression”.
Finally, Mr Jevrell welcomed the “key role” played by the parliamentarians of the ESDA who made a major contribution to “securing public support for the EU’s work”.
