Speech Ashton: European Defence Matters - Hoofdinhoud
On 27 March 2014, Catherine Ashton i, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Head of the European Defence Agency gave her key note address at the EDA Annual Conference. The speech emphasised Europe's commitment to support Ukraine and stressed the importance of European defence cooperation in the light of new threats and budget constraints. The European Defence Agency was created ten years ago to support and enhance cooperation in the field of defence. EDA is proving an important catalyst to Pooling & Sharing defence and security capabilities. During the conference around 600 frontline actors of defence cooperation as well as leaders from the military, politics and industry engaged in highly interactive panel debates that ranged from Pooling and Sharing as well as Research & Innovation to maintain Europe's technological edge.
At the beginning of her speech Baroness Ashton emphasized the importance of current events in Ukraine for Europe's security: "This year's EDA conference takes place against the backdrop of the most tense situation in our neighbourhood since the end of the cold War. It is exactly a month today since self-declared, armed "defenders of the Russian speaking population of Ukraine" stormed the parliament building in Sevastopol. The EU has been clear in its reaction: There is no place for the use of force and coercion to change borders in the 21st century. The EU will not recognize the annexation of Crimea by Russia."
The High Representative also highlighted the significance of these events for Europe beyond their immediate repercussions: "The events of these last weeks remind us that peace and stability in Europe could be more fragile than we all would hope. Unilateral action can call into question four decades of building and developing shared principles in Europe." In the light of these events she stressed the importance "to take time and reflect on […] what we can do to prevent such situations, how we can best respond to them an how we need to organize and equip ourselves in a rapidly changing strategic and geopolitical environment".
"Ultimately" she said, this is about the role of the EU on the world stage and about its readiness and ability to act as a security provider."
The speech went on to focus on the comprehensive approach, "one of the greatest strengths of the EU". The High Representative argued that "comprehensiveness means investing in early earning, […] and conflict prevention just as much as in crisis response, stabilization and peace building, development and dialogue. It also means to systematically and closely work with partners" The EU's actions at the Horn of Africa, in the Sahel and in Mali are just a few examples to illustrate the use of the comprehensive approach.
Looking to the future "European defence can only be successful if underpinned by the necessary military capabilities; and it is no secret that we still lack critical capabilities." […] We need to become less dependent and stand on our own feet. "
Baroness Ashton emphasized the role that investing in dual use technologies such as Satellite Communications, Drones and Cyber plays in harnessing synergies of new technologies and ensuring that money on new capabilities is well spent. "We need to apply the EU's comprehensive approach also to capability development".
"Europe's defence industry has a pivotal role to play", said the High Representative, "it is a sector that generates an annual turnover of almost 100 billion Euros, and almost half a million jobs."
At the end of her speech, the High Representative emphasized that "we have the institutional instruments, we have the expertise, we have the coordinated efforts between European institutions and the Member States. And we have the tools at our disposal to move further in the direction of cooperation and consolidation. […] "I believe that together we can make European Defence Cooperation a success and thereby ensure that the EU is truly a global security provider in the 21st century".
See also: