28
Feb
2024
Watch
Strengthening European Defence in a volatile geopolitical landscape - Implementation of the common foreign and security policy – annual report 2023 - Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2023 (joint debate - European security and defence)
Monsieur le Président, Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Secrétaire d’État, il n’est jamais trop tard pour se réveiller, même si la guerre russe en Ukraine et les spéculations sur une possible défaillance de l’allié américain ne datent pas d’aujourd’hui, ni même d’il y a deux ans, mais d’il y a déjà dix ans. Since then, we have had a lot of announcement effects, a lot of incantations, a few actions, it is true, but too little and too slowly. And I refer you in this regard to the debates that we had here two years ago, on the eve and following the famous summit of Versailles, where we were promised mountains and wonders. But all this is slow to materialize. How can we make sure today that we will not be left with empty statements again? First, in the face of urgency, let us avoid wasting time and energy in divisive debates, instead of fully mobilising on what must unite and unite us. The top priority today is to produce and deliver equipment and ammunition, not publicly speculate on options that divide Europeans. This applies to the President of the French Republic as well as to the German Chancellor. Secondly, it must be recognised that there is only one category of producers, the undertakings, and only one category of purchasers, the States. The Commission, as you have explained very well, Madam President, is not a producer, nor is it a buyer of defence equipment. This is not its role. Its role, as you recalled, is to facilitate and streamline this link between companies and states as directly and simply as possible. In this regard, it is imperative, as Manfred has pointed out, and I can only stress this aspect, to get out of any ambiguity about the constraints that discourage public and private funding to the defence industry. The famous taxonomy, whether environmental or social, puts too much uncertainty on actors who are ready to commit, but who are afraid of being in breach of sometimes imprecise or contradictory injunctions. Finally, the Member States retain the major responsibility and must not shy away from it. They place orders, they buy, they deliver. That they revitalise the European Peace Facility at the right level, that they adapt the rules of the European Investment Bank, and that they come together or do it alone to buy and deliver. But let them do it quickly, the war economy is not a side effect, it is a command.