Edition: International | Greek
MENU

Home » EU Actually

An EU Army, the ultimate dream of europhiles

Will the humiliating and dramatic withdrawal from Kabul lead to EU armed forces? Don’t count on it

By: N. Peter Kramer - Posted: Wednesday, September 8, 2021

"In a subsequent attempt, the EU created a system of EU battalion-sized battlegroups of 1.500 soldiers in 2007, which have never been used in operations either due to disputes over funding or reluctance to deploy."
"In a subsequent attempt, the EU created a system of EU battalion-sized battlegroups of 1.500 soldiers in 2007, which have never been used in operations either due to disputes over funding or reluctance to deploy."

N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column

Will the humiliating and dramatic withdrawal from Kabul lead to EU armed forces? Don’t count on it. Every time it turns out that Europe is dependent of the US, the debate about an EU armed force starts again. After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the nineties, calls for such armed forces grew. At the time, there was talk of an EU army of no less than 50.000 soldiers. Guy Verhofstadt, then Belgian Prime Minister, offered a chateau just outside Brussels to domicile the military headquarters. Named after Belgium’s pride, it was called the Praline HQ. But the plan has never been materialised.

In a subsequent attempt, the EU created a system of EU battalion-sized battlegroups of 1.500 soldiers in 2007, which have never been used in operations either due to disputes over funding or reluctance to deploy.

Plans for EU defense cooperation have failed due to a number of obstacles. The initiatives can be at odds with NATO commitments. The US, NATO’s informal leader, often held back EU ambitions. Some Eastern European member states prefer to rely on the US rather than on EU initiatives. In addition, the EU does not have the right intelligence and is not at all equipped to make quick (military) decisions when the situation is asking for it.

But see. In the wake of the Afghanistan crisis, EU defence ministers last week have discussed proposals for a rapid reaction force and the possibility to move towards ad-hoc military cooperation between interested EU member states. EU Council President Charles Michel was, of course, wildly enthusiastic. ‘The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan forces us to think about European defence’, he said. Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist reaction was wiser, ‘I do not see that as the main line for solving problems like this’. According to him, the link across the Atlantic remains particularly important for the balance and stability ‘in our part of the world’.

It is clear that Sweden, together with the Baltic States and Poland, pours cold water on the EU defence debate…

READ ALSO

EU Actually

After a painful NATO exercise: are all those billions for defense being spent wisely?

N. Peter KramerBy: N. Peter Kramer

NATO reported on its website about a large-scale exercise organised by a multinational battlegroup in Estonia. The soldiers had to train in temperatures of 20 degrees below zero. The military alliance is investing significant resources in defending its eastern flank.

Europe

EU auditors highlight "fraud" in COVID fund

EU auditors highlight "fraud" in COVID fund

The EU’s €650 billion COVID recovery fund, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), continues to show multiple weaknesses in fraud detection, reporting and correction, according to a new report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

Business

The Week That Changed Everything: EU–India After the FTA, the AI Summit and the End of Strategic Ambiguity

The Week That Changed Everything: EU–India After the FTA, the AI Summit and the End of Strategic Ambiguity

What New Delhi’s February Moment Means for Europe — and Why Central and Eastern Europe Must Now Step Forward

MARKET INDICES

Powered by Investing.com
All contents © Copyright EMG Strategic Consulting Ltd. 1997-2026. All Rights Reserved   |   Home Page  |   Disclaimer  |   Website by Theratron