Search

Many of those who oppose the Lisbon Treaty cite its European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and Common Security and Foreign Policy (CSFP) provisions as cause for concern in terms of how they might impact on Irish neutrality or serve to create a pan-European army to rival NATO. Those clauses of the Lisbon Treaty which address security and defence issues are worthy of debate, and may cause concern in some quarters. They do not however impact directly on Irish neutrality. Nor do they amount to a charter for the creation of a standing European army. Much of what the Lisbon Treaty addresses in military terms – simply reiterates ESDP and CSFP aspirations that have already been stated in previous EU Treaties and Summits. In relation to the concept of a ‘Common European Defence’ – this issue was addressed eleven years ago at Article 17 of the Amsterdam Treaty 1997 wherein it stated ‘CSFP shall include all questions relating to the security of the Union, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy … which might lead to a Common Defence, should the European Council so decide’. Further reference to Common European Defence was made at the EU Summit of Cologne 1999 where it was intended ‘to give the EU the necessary means and capabilities to assume its responsibilities regarding a common ESDP’.

Prijedlog nacrta teksta Ustava Europske Unije najviši je dokument kojim Europljani nastoje institucionalizirati zajedničku vanjsku i sigurnosnu politiku EU, uključujući i njezinu sigurnosnu komponentu, europsku obranu. Iako još nije izvjesno hoće li i kada U stav EU biti i usvojen, evidentno je daje na sigurnosno-obrambenom planu EU odlučila poduzeti značajne mjere kako bi projekt europske obrane što prije zaživio u onoj mjeri u kojoj je Europljanima potrebita da odgovore na novonastale izazove sigurnosti, ne samo Starog kontinenta već i šire globalne zajednice., The EU Draft Constitution presents supreme document with which Europeans try to institutionalize Common Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, including its security component, European Defence. Although it is still not certain whether and when the EU Constitution will be adopted, it is evident that EU has decided to act significantly in order for European Defence project to be realized as soon as possible to respond to the new security challenges, not only in Europe, but in the wider global community.

The strategies of states are part of a context of increasing globalisation, and the European framework seems relatively well adapted to today's strategic considerations. However, European defence has not yet been achieved, as it involves economic considerations that may prove decisive in national choices. Should Europe have a common defence or should it do so within the framework defined by the United States? How can we benefit from economies of scale in the production of European weapons? What are the political, economic and strategic advantages of a European defence? If American disengagement from Europe seems inevitable, a European defence should be built to ensure the durability of a united Europe., Les stratégies des Etats s’inscrivent dans un contexte de globalisation croissante, et le cadre européen semble relativement bien adapté aux considérations stratégiques d’aujourd’hui. Cependant, la défense européenne n’est pas encore réalisée, car elle met en œuvre des considérations économiques susceptibles de s’avérer décisives dans les choix nationaux. L’Europe doit-elle avoir une défense commune ou doit-elle le faire dans le cadre défini par les Etats-Unis ? Comment bénéficier les économies d’échelles pour la production des armes européennes ? Quels sont les avantages politiques, économiques et stratégiques d’une Europe de la défense ? Si le désengagement américain en Europe semble inéluctable, une défense européenne devrait se construire pour assurer la pérennité d’une Europe unie.

What are the key issues concerning the European Security and Defence Identity? It is necessary to analyze successively and simultaneously the norms and law of international security; defense and security policies; the European economic basis of security and defense, arms control and disarmament, conflict prevention and management, the European geo-economy, the European economic and social model, common human and democratic security, new technologies for defense purposes and the prospective concerning European security., Quels sont des problèmes essentiels concernant l’identité européenne de sécurité et de défense ? Il faut analyser successivement et simultanément les normes et droit de la sécurité internationale ; les politiques de défense et de sécurité ; les base économique européenne de sécurité et de défense, la maîtrise des armement et le désarmement, la prévention et la gestion des conflits, la géoéconomie européenne, le modèle économique et social européen, la sécurité commune humaine et démocratique, les nouvelles technologies à utilité défense et la prospective concernant la sécurité européenne.