Independent Review on European Security and Defence Volume N° 37 Quo vadis Europe? A strategic compass for the EU’s path to the future The German EU Presidency: A European war college, a critical view from the an opportunity for European Parliament European defence? Nicola Beer MEP, Brig Gen Jean-Marc Vigilant, Vice-President European Parliament, Commander War College, Brussels/Strasbourg Paris www.magazine-the-european.com Edition 4/2020 Editorial No return to the good old times! Donald Trump’s presidency was characterised first NATO. But he would be well advised to take and foremost by his extravagant personality and his heed of the French President’s unequivo- populism, but it also wrought a profound change in cal statement in his speech of 7th February American politics. 2020 that a European defence capability Today, populism is a feature of all democracies and should eventually become a powerful pillar th the 46 President-elect, Joe Biden, would do well to within the NATO Alliance. Europe must be Photo: private, LISphoto.com cultivate a moderate populism if he is to “restore the resolute in showing the USA how and to Hartmut Bühl soul” of his people, as he put it in his victory speech on what extent it wishes to shape the future 7th November. But Joe Biden will only succeed in uni- of NATO. There should be no taboos and even NATO’s fying his divided nation if he can first unify his divided command structures should be reviewed to fit Europe’s party and stop it from tearing itself apart in fratricidal role and importance. feuding. As a primus inter pares, France, as a nuclear power, Internationally, the new President will pursue moderate could take the lead in forging a coalition of European unilateralism and will start by rolling back the isola- nations of military and geostrategic relevance and tionist policies of his predecessor in many areas. There discuss, one to one with the USA, the future shape of can be no doubt however that the USA will remain the the transatlantic alliance. For its part, Germany should master of its decision making, less provocatively but come off the fence by increasing its defence spending with continuity and the familiar single-mindedness in within NATO and the EU. implementation. Whether Joe Biden will have time enough to reconcile Biden will also wish to adopt some of the more mes- the 70 million Trump voters is a question that can only sianic tendencies within his party, that aim to infuse be answered if and when he is able to unite a reformed American foreign policy with democratic and western Democratic party behind his banner. values, last attempted by George. W. Bush two decades The President-elect Joe Biden and his Vice President- ago. As he seeks to bring a lasting cure to America’s elect, Kamala Harris, have a monumental task ahead internal divisions, such a stance could help fill the of them: to make the American ship of state seaworthy vacuum left by Trump’s ethically objectionable attitude again, both within and outside their nation. It is not an towards despots and dictators. enviable task. Around the world, there are expectations of a reset of As President, Joe Biden will face the challenge of being US foreign policy. Europe has warmly welcomed Biden’s a healer and a reformer at the same time. And the soon- election and hopes for an improvement in transatlantic er the better, so as to prevent his country from becom- relations. But how will Europe fit in to the new scheme ing even more divided. A foreign policy success could of things? It must have no illusions that America will help him in this task and Europe’s outstretched hand is want to exert its leadership and that it sees China as there to be grasped. its principal adversary. America will press for greater European solidarity on trade with China and on defence and security within NATO. It remains to be seen what attitude Biden will adopt towards Europe’s increased efforts to develop its own defence capabilities within IMPRESSUM: The European − Security and Defence Union Headquarters: International Consulting Editorial Assistant: Céline Merz, Linz a. Rhein (GE) 6, Rue du Château, F 28260 Berchères-sur-Vesgre (FR) E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] Translator: Miriam Newman-Tancredi, Castres (FR) and London (GB) Publisher and Editor in Chief: Hartmut Bühl, Berchères-sur-Vesgre (FR) Layout: Beate Dach, SpreeService, Berlin (GE) Phone: +49/172 32 82 319 Advertisement & Sales: Hartmut Bühl, Berchères-sur-Vesgre (FR) E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: +49/172 32 82 319 Deputy Editor-in-Chief: Nannette Cazaubon, Paris (FR) Print: Polyprint GmbH (GE) E-Mail: [email protected] © 2020 by International Consulting, France 3 THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION Vol. No. 37 Content 3 Editorial, Hartmut Bühl 6 News, Nannette Cazaubon 17–36 MAIN TOPIC: Quo vadis Europe? The EU needs a strategic compass 8–16 In the Spotlight Liberty in a resilient Europe 18 Cyrille Schott, Paris Security and defence, both interdependent sides of the same coin The crisis ultimately moves the lines 8 Josep Borrell, Brussels Concrete solutions for concrete challenges 20 Hartmut Bühl, Paris Towards a Strategic Compass for the EU Commentary: What defence for Europe? For a dispassionate debate on nuclear deterrence 10 Nicola Beer MEP, Strasbourg/Brussels Is the German presidency succeeding to consolidate the 21 General (ret.) Harald Kujat, Berlin Union and reinforce the European institutions? Back to normal transatlantic relations A critical view from the European Parliament The impact of the US election on Europe 12 Michael Singh / Charles Thépaut, Washington, D.C. 23 Professor Hideshi Tokuchi, Tokyo Presidential elections in the United States Maintaining the rules-based international order in Political and economic consequences for Europe the age of the US-China rivalry Keep the US engaged 13 Hartmut Bühl, Publisher, Paris The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership 24 Arie Egozi, Tel Aviv (RCEP) Israel’s peace with Arab countries – a new chance to Strategic and economic implications for the EU stabilise the Middle East? Far away from peace in this region 14 Interview with Cyrille Schott, Strasbourg “The critical mind is also free in its thinking 26 Michael Gahler MEP, Brussels/Strasbourg about religions” Towards a European Defence Union Our freedom is an inalienable right Maintaining momentum 15 Jean-Louis Gergorin / Léo Isaac-Dognin, Paris Ransomware is becoming a systemic threat to Europe’s economy The golden age of cyberpiracy Photos (cover): © underworld, stock.adobe.com; private (left); © Lionel Monnier (right); page 4: Dario Pignatelli, European Union 2020 (left); page 4: ©Noris Cocci, stock.adobe.com (right) page 5: © Bumble Dee, stock.adobe.com 4 Content 37–46 European capabilities and cooperation 28 Frédéric Mauro, Brussels European defence forces versus European army Words in the wind 38 General Eberhard Zorn, Berlin 30 Hartmut Bühl, Paris European Security and Defence – an operational The Common Annual Review on Defence (CARD) perspective New opportunities for the European defence landscape Improving our ability to act 33 Brigadier General (FRA-F) Jean-Marc Vigilant, Paris 40 Patrick Bellouard, Paris A European war college, an opportunity for European The impact of Covid-19 on European defence defence? Defence is no longer taboo Time for a European strategic culture 42 Fred Stoof, Borkheide 34 Interview with François Bausch, Luxembourg Cutting-edge technologies for the security of armoured Luxembourg’s strong commitment to the EU and NATO civil vehicles Enlarging the security concept Adaptable to all missions 44 Ruy Pinto, Luxembourg Connecting the world through satellite Vital support for critical healthcare services 45 Jacques Favin-Lévêque, Versailles Military mobility – vital for European defence More than a symbolic project 46 Documentation Speech of NATO Deputy Secretary General The European – Security and Defence Union is the Mircea Geoană winner of the 2011 European Award for Citizenship, Security and Defence, and was awarded in 2019 the Jury’s Special Prize of the same competition. Photos (cover): © underworld, stock.adobe.com; private (left); © Lionel Monnier (right); page 4: Dario Pignatelli, European Union 2020 (left); page 4: ©Noris Cocci, stock.adobe.com (right) page 5: © Bumble Dee, stock.adobe.com 5 THE EUROPEAN – SECURITY AND DEFENCE UNION Obituary COVID-19 Valéry Giscard d’Estaing EU vaccines strategy (Ed/nc) At the European Council of 10th- (Ed/hb) With the death of Valéry Giscard 11th December, EU leaders welcomed the d’Estaing on 2nd December at the age of positive announcements on COVID-19 94, the world has lost a great European. vaccines and the common advance pur- As the President of France from 1974 chase agreements by the Commission. to 1981, he was a liberalising modern- They highlighted the importance of prepa- iser of his country and its society. As a rations for the timely deployment and convinced European, he made the Eu- distribution of vaccines to ensure they ropean Union more democratic through are made available in good time and in the introduction of universal suffrage for a coordinated manner. graphic: brgfx, www.freepik.com elections to the European Parliament and The heads of state and government politically more effective by creating the agreed to enhance the sharing of expe- European Council. riences and plans, and they underlined the need to pursue work to increase resilience in the area of health. They invited the European Commission to present a proposal for a Council recommendation on a common framework for rapid antigen tests and for the mutual recognition of test results. A coordinated approach to vaccination certificates should also be developed.