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– EuroArmy...For Peace or
War?
Germans plead for the creation of an
EU army
German Foreign policy
BERLIN (Own report) - Immediately following the Irish "Yes" to the
Lisbon Treaty, German government advisors were pleading for further
steps for the EU's militarization. In Berlin it is being suggested that
if it is possible to get Czech President Václav Klaus to quickly sign
the treaty, the regulations for the arms build-up could soon take
effect. Even the EU Foreign Minister, provided for in the document, with
his European Foreign Service, would "strengthen the capability for
common action in foreign affairs" says the German Institute for
International and Security Affairs (SWP). But significant improvements
in the EU's military firepower can only be achieved through "sharing of
military duties and specialization." In the past, European states have
been insufficiently willing to take this step. The individual EU member
states should proceed with the amalgamation of their national armies and
surrender their autonomy as demanded by the SWP. Concerning the
strategic planning, Berlin's advisors write: "the most economically
sound would be the creation of a European army."
Arms Build-up
Berlin's most recent initiative to advance the militarization of the EU
began immediately following the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
Last Friday's majority "Yes" vote seems to have cleared the way for
putting the treaty into effect. Only Czech President Václav Klaus is in
a position to thwart this project, if he succeeds in postponing his
signature until after British elections next spring. The next British
prime minister, most likely a conservative, could hold a referendum -
probably with a majority "No" result. Berlin and Brussels find this an
unlikely prospect. German media have, as a precaution, already announced
that Prague's mandate as EU Commissioner could be withdrawn, but other
means of pressure against Czechia could also be used.[1] If the treaty
comes into force, especially the arms build-up directives will become
effective. In the document it says that "the member states pledge to
gradually enhance their military capability." Detailed measures are
given.[2]
Battle Groups
The Lisbon Treaty points in the right direction, writes the German
Institute for International and Security Policy (SWP) in Berlin. The SWP
recalls that in the '90s, the attempt to create a common European
Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) was met with strong resistance.
Ireland, for example "saw the danger that this could be a first step
toward the creation of a European army."[3] The German government
advisors explain that "such an idea is even today categorically rejected
in Ireland", which is why it has always been emphasized "that the ESDP
process is not aimed at the creation of a European army." The ESDP was
finally officially established at the June 1999 EU Summit Meeting in
Cologne. Since then, European military policy has made enormous
progress. The SWP recalls the creation of battle groups, the European
Defense Agency as well as the EU military intervention in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and in Chad.
Deficit
Since the Irish "Yes," Berlin is now pushing to decisively advance the
EU's militarization. According to the SWP there are significant
"deficits" in the facilities of the European armed forces. The air
transport, for example, must be significantly upgraded. The SWP finds
that "a more effective and above all, more economical use of means"
could be achieved particularly "through a sharing of military duties and
specialization." That these "options are only rarely applied" is due
"above all, to the insistence on the maximal national sovereignty and
independence of decision." The majority of EU states want "to maintain
as much of the own armed forces and national command structure as
possible," says the SWP study. "Therefore each EU state - or at least
each one that can afford to - buys numerous fighter jets."[4] The goal
is "to have the permanent capability of protecting against violations of
the national airspace (air policing)."
Savings
Precisely this is what the Berlin government's advisors do not want. For
example, the difficulties of air transport - which during the EU's
intervention in Chad led to aggravated problems - could be easily
overcome, "if at least the member nations with a smaller territory would
coordinate a common air policing with their larger neighbors."[5] Enough
transport helicopters could be paid for "with the money that could be
saved on interceptors", writes SWP. This suggestion is aimed at placing,
for example, the airspace of Austria or the Czech Republic under the
surveillance of the German Luftwaffe. Vienna and Prague would have to
submit to serious cutbacks in their sovereignty - for the purpose of
procuring, for example, the necessary transport equipment to satisfy
Germany's or some other key EU power's intervention needs.
Take Over
As a first step, SWP is demanding that those states "prepared to do so"
proceed with their "military integration." This would permit "the German
naval command and the German Baltic naval bases to take over functions
for other nations as well." In the long run, the SWP is clearly pleading
for the creation of an EU army, though this "term is controversial for
the majority of the EU states," because they are not prepared to give up
their national independence in a very key sector. But in the long run,
the EU army is indispensable. Berlin's government advisors judge that
"to continue to maintain 27 national armed forces represents a definite
waste of the limited financial resources."[6] The one to benefit most
from the amalgamation of the national armed forces into an EU army would
be the state that wields the most influence inside the EU. According to
the Lisbon Treaty's rules of voting, just accepted by Ireland, it would
be the country already economically and politically predominating in
Europe - Germany.
[1] Nach dem Ja der Iren Druck auf Prag und Warschau; Frankfurter
Allgemeine Zeitung 05.10.2009
[2] Vertrag von Lissabon zur Änderung des Vertrags über die Europäische
Union und des Vertrags zur Gründung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft,
unterzeichnet in Lissabon am 13. Dezember 2007
[3], [4], [5], [6] Volker Heise: Zehn Jahre Europäische Sicherheits- und
Verteidigungspolitik. Entwicklung, Stand und Probleme; SWP-Studie S 25,
Oktober 2009
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