Who protects whom in the EU? – “A manual would be good”
Published 06.00
EU countries are supposed to protect each other in times of crisis and war. But how does it actually work?
Now the protection article is to be tested and clear instructions are to be drawn up.
The EU Treaty’s special protection article, 42.7, states that member states are obliged to stand by each other if someone is subjected to an armed attack.
But exactly how it will work is unclear, not least because most are also members of NATO and are thus covered by – and rely on – the military alliance’s equivalent, Article 5.
Now the EU paragraph is to be tested anyway. An exercise will be held in May under the leadership of Foreign Minister Kaja Kalla with the member states' security-related ambassadors in Brussels. The idea is then to follow up with an exercise at the level of defense ministers.
Handbook in progress
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius wants to see a "handbook".
- It would be good to have a manual that people can consult to know who to contact, what resources are available and how this mutual assistance should be implemented and delivered, says Kubilius in an interview with the news agency cooperation European Newsroom (ENR), which also includes TT.
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) is positive - but emphasizes that it should not be about doing the same thing as NATO.
- We must not forget that NATO is our defense alliance. But it is clear that it is important that we look at how we can support each other in cases where it is needed, says the Foreign Minister.
Concerns in Cyprus
A discussion on the safeguard clause was held when EU heads of state and government held a summit dinner in Cyprus on Thursday.
Not least, it was important for the host country, one of only four EU countries that is not part of NATO. At the same time, it is also located in a conflict-ridden area, to say the least, just under 20 land miles from Syria and Lebanon – something that was clearly felt when drones crashed into one of Britain’s two bases in Cyprus during the start of the US and Israeli bombing of Iran.
– Everyone agrees that when the sovereignty of a member state is threatened, it cannot be a question of “if”, but “how quickly”. We must turn the safeguard clause into a functioning mechanism, said President Nikos Christodoulides at a press conference afterwards.
Concerns about the US
The US's performance under new President Donald Trump is also playing a role, as many EU countries are wondering whether the US can still be trusted when it comes to NATO's Article 5.
- We have no reason to question their commitments under Article 5, but their rhetoric is deeply damaging, states Foreign Minister Malmer Stenergard.
FACTS
The EU's protection article
Article 42(7) of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU's basic law, states: "If a Member State is the victim of an armed attack on its territory, the other Member States shall be obliged to provide that Member State with support and assistance by all available means, in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations. This shall not prejudice the specific nature of the security and defence policies of certain Member States."
The protection article has only been invoked once, by France after the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November 2015.
Footnote: Article 51 of the UN Charter concerns the right of everyone to self-defense
