The European Parliament urges MEPs to respond more harshly to Russia’s threats News
The EU and its Member States should increase military, political and humanitarian aid to Ukraine and strengthen defenses against Russian threats to European security, MEPs said in their annual report on foreign affairs and common security adopted on Wednesday by 407 votes to 92. against and 142 abstained.
The EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is being closely watched by autocracies around the world and will have a major impact on their behavior on the international stage, MEPs warn.
The EU should make decision-making more flexible and efficient
They call on the EU to use the provisions of the Treaty on European Union, which would allow the Council to take certain decisions without military significance, especially in the area of sanctions and human rights, not by “unanimity” but by a qualified majority.
The report also calls on the EU institutions to propose that the EU can obtain a permanent seat in all multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council.
Reducing the EU’s dependence on energy resources
EU security is closely linked to speeding up the enlargement process, membership criteria must be respected and the EU’s neighborhood policy must be reformed, MEPs say. They also call for the EU to be less dependent on energy resources and other essential materials imported from third countries, especially from countries that do not share the values of the European Union or with which the EU is in a position of systemic competition.
Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine
In the 2022 report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), adopted on Wednesday by 459 votes to 93 with 85 abstentions, the European Parliament calls on MEPs to immediately deploy modern weapons and a new generation air defense system. , called on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to allow the delivery of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. They stress that Ukraine is defending its territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders and urgently needs military assistance and heavy weapons to win the war.
The report welcomes new EU initiatives to strengthen Europe’s security and defence, including the Versailles Declaration, the Strategic Compass, the Joint Communication on Defense Investment Gaps and the Commission Regulation on Proposals to Promote Joint Public Procurement (EDIRPA). Member states should continue to develop the EU’s cyber defense policy and capabilities, the MEPs add, and build security and defense partnerships with like-minded partners around the world.
Quotes
Common foreign and security policy rapporteur David McAllister (EPP, DE) said: “To become a real geopolitical player, the European Union needs to strengthen its foreign policy instruments and strengthen its institutional structure. For example, unanimity voting clearly limits the ability. the reconciliation between costs should be considered more critically.
Common security and defense policy rapporteur Tom Vandenkendelaere (EPP, BE) said: “Europe’s security has deteriorated significantly due to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In this context, the EU should increase and speed up military aid to Ukraine and improve the situation. Defense policy should work while continuing and strengthening cooperation with NATO and, among other things, it should speed up defense decision-making and reduce its dependence on third countries.
