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14 EWROPEJ maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 MARCH 2024 EUROPEAN leaders this week debated the future of the bloc's security infra- structure, in the wake of two reports on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The debate focused on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, with MEPs from mainstream parties gener- ally calling on the EU to advance deci- sion-making reforms on foreign policy and invest heavily in defence architec- ture. The first report, by German MEP Da- vid McAllister (EPP) was supported by 338 votes in favour, 86 against and 122 abstentions: all Maltese MEPs were present on the day, with Nationalist MEP David Casa voting against – the only EPP member to do so – as well as Labour MEPs Alex Agius Saliba and Al- fred Sant. In another report by S&D MEP Sven Mikser, calling for an acceleration to the EU's financial and military assistance to Ukraine, Casa too voted against – again the only EPP member to do so – togeth- er with Agius Saliba and Sant. The re- port was backed by 350 to 91, and 96 abstentions. None of the Maltese MEPs addressed any part of the debate. Von der Leyen: Europe must wake up The debate was addressed by Com- mission president Ursula von der Ley- en, who said European illusions of peace had been shattered by the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, now in its third year and more entrenched and in- tense than ever. "To put it as bluntly as outgoing Presi- dent Niinistö of Finland did last month: 'Europe has to wake up.' And I would add: urgently. We all know there is so much at stake here – our freedom and our prosperity. And we have to start acting like it," Von der Leyen said, call- ing for unity on the future of the Euro- pean security architecture. "The truth is we have not been living with conflict merely since 2022, but for far longer. The threats to our security, our prosperity and our way of life come in many different forms, and we all know them. Some of them are obvious, some of them are hazier on the surface. Be it tackling political interference re- ducing our dangerous dependencies – a policy I have called de-risking – or be it eliminating hostile actors from our critical infrastructure. We Europeans must be on guard. This is not just about defeating bullies on the battlefield but across all our society." The bloc's military spending reached a record €270 billion in 2023, accord- ing to EU Council President Charles Michel, in the face of Russia's brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU is currently financing the As- pides naval mission in the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping against missiles shot by Houthi rebels in Yemen as part of their blockade against Israeli aggression on unarmed Palestinians in Gaza. National defence budgets have already risen by 20% from 2023, with NATO expecting 18 of its members to beat the 2% defence spending target in 2024. The European Peace Facility has mobilised €6.1 billion to support the Ukrainian armed forces with lethal and non-lethal military equipment and sup- plies. Von Der Leyen also called on member states to "turbocharge" the EU's defence industrial capacity. Europe must spend more, spend better, spend European… We will identify European Defence Projects of Common Interest, to focus efforts and resources where it has the biggest impact and added value." Party leaders EPP chair Manfred Weber, whose par- ty supports the creation of a European army, once again called for Europe to "be prepared for war as a way of pre- serving peace", quoting George Wash- ington. "Solidarity is being undermined. I'm concerned that Emanuel Macron is starting a senseless debate on whether French troops should be on the ground in Ukraine, or that Olaf Scholz is asking whether Germany would be party to the war by delivering missiles to Ukraine. This only confirms Russian propaganda when they say that Europe is a party to the war by supporting Ukraine. "I say, 'stop! Putin is threatening our lifestyle' - Russian appeasement won't work as we leant in the Second World War. We need people who are willing to lead and show unity, not division, because Putin will only understand strength." Weber has previously called for "a Eu- ropean pillar of defence", including an EU-wide missile defence system and a cyber-defence brigade to fend off at- tacks from Russia and elsewhere. We- ber also said it was time to talk with France about how the country's nuclear defence "can be embedded in European structures." The S&D vice-president Pedro Marques had a pointed challenge to Von Der Leyen, accusing the EU of hav- ing lost its moral compass in using its soft power to build alliances with many other countries. "It is us who should be questioning what we are doing in these dramat- ic times. If we want to be safe in this world, we have to be a more geopolitical Europe, but the world will not forgive us for our noble standards. The world will not partner with us if they are left behind because they are not Caucasian or rich." Marques said the EU had not forged lasting partnerships with Africa and Latin America. "Will we just give in to President Macron's domestic problems and turn our back to the rest of the world?" Marques also accused the EPP of try- ing to tear down Green Deal policies that would keep Europe safe against the climate crisis, "all for just a few thou- sand votes." On the hand, liberal Reform chair Valeri Hayer, a member of the Macronite Renaissance party, said Europe could not wait any longer for other powerful countries to come to its defence. "We need to look at our own security. We cannot wake up the day after the US elections to say we were not prepared. We cannot count on the far left and far right in this parliament... we need to show collective responsibility, or we would be playing in the hands of our opponents. Who better than Europe to protect Europe? And we need to put an end to unanimity on foreign policy, where one country in hock to a foreign power can undermine all we do." Greens co-chair Terry Reintke said accused Macron of not showing ma- Europe talks war and defence as Centre-right's demand for common defence strategy gathers steam in European Parliament debate that calls for action against Russian aggression MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt