OS ANOS VÃO PASSANDO

Defence is our priority


A strong, united military would allow greater EU intervention and, vitally, improve internal cohesion

Nuno Severiano Teixeira
Wednesday September 26, 2007
The Guardian


Security has always been a central aspect of European integration. Its goal - to end fratricidal wars and build a stable Europe founded on a democratic peace - has been reached; today it is unthinkable that EU member states should go to war, or even threaten to use force, against each other. But a sustained peace among Europe's democracies depends on the survival of the EU. And in a context of multiplying post-cold-war threats, the EU is central to the development of common defence.

The EU faces new threats: not only transnational terrorism, but the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and failed states. Europe's response has been slow and falls far short of what is necessary in light of our responsibilities and capabilities. The lack of any real solidarity among member states prevents the EU from responding efficiently to these threats. The absence of a shared Middle East strategy greatly lessens the impact of EU interventions. The slow response to conflicts such as that in Darfur raises questions about Europe's commitment to humanitarian principles and solidarity in our relations with Africa.There are signs of change, however.

The Balkan wars forced Europeans to think long and hard about our inability to intervene to solve conflicts within our own continent. This wake-up call bore fruit with the establishment of the European Security and Defence Policy in 2000. At the same time, efforts to work with Nato enabled the EU to undertake its first military missions, first in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and then in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the intervention depended on EU means alone.

In 2003 the EU approved the European Security Strategy, which identifies the main threats to our common security. This document, which outlined a European view and strategic doctrine for the first time, needs to be updated.

But having a European defence system also means developing military capabilities. We need to strengthen the rapid response capacity to deal with crisis situations. This includes setting up battle groups covering land, air and sea; reinforcing planning and operations management capacities; and establishing a European industrial base, with a central role for the European Defence Agency. All this should complement Nato.

Making European defence a priority is urgent in order to consolidate the Euro-Atlantic security community; to reinforce EU cohesion and its autonomous defence capability; and to respond to external threats and contribute to regional and international stability in the Middle East and Africa.

Portugal is an integral part of European defence. It has been a player from the start, participating in the Common European Security Policy and in all EU military missions, and contributing to the development of European military capabilities. Portugal's commitment is being put to the test as it presides over the EU Council in the second half of 2007. We want to reinforce Europe's capacity to intervene in international crises, and the EU-Nato partnership. We are committed to strengthening relations between the EU and the UN, not least to address the task of rebuilding war-torn states. We want to broaden strategic and military cooperation between the EU and the African Union to help prevent conflict and ensure the consolidation of Africa's states. We want to reinforce dialogue with the countries of the southern Mediterranean, which is essential to address shared threats.

Defence is a vital driver of European integration today. The EU must become a true defence community: only then can it become a fully developed international actor.

· Dr Nuno Severiano Teixeira is Portugual's defence minister


comment@guardian.co.uk