Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518068
6 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 MARCH 2024 NEWS Under shadow of Putin and Trump, EU FROM appeals for 'Europeans to protect Europe' and clarion calls of 'defence, de- fence, defence', and other joint military procurement proposals, Europe is away with a centrist, mainstream concern about its defence capabilities. The fog of war has left European legacy parties sure of two threats: Vladimir Pu- tin's aggression in Ukraine and the fears of appeasing the Russian bear, and the prospect of a return to global influence for Donald Trump in the United States with a weakening of America's role in NATO. All this happens against the tide of a rise of the European far-right: identitar- ian revanchists who want impermeable borders against asylum seekers and har- bour sympathy for Russia's cynical sup- port of their 'anti-woke' principles. Now as they fear a loss of seats in the European Parliament, the major polit- ical blocs are sharpening their appetite for a renewed European project of mil- itarised defence, to them the key to keep the Union a project of peace. Views dif- fer among the various groups, but there some common threads that place the mainstream parties on the same road. European People's Party It is definitely the European People's Party that has historically been gung-ho on arming Europe towards a stronger military union, and its manifesto is cer- tainly a lengthy 'treatise' of sorts on this vision – much more verbose than other parties. "Russia's illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, the weaponisation of energy and food and irresponsible nu- clear threats, combined with growing tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, are a wake-up call for Eu- rope. The pace of geopolitical change is dramatic and the world has become a more dangerous place." The EPP is also clear that "Europeans need to protect Europe" and pledges as always its alignment with NATO and its strengthening through Sweden's ac- cession. "Every European effort in the field of defence has to be embedded and coherent with NATO. However, our trans-Atlantic allies will stand with us only if we are also willing to do our part autonomously. A strong alliance re- quires burden sharing." The EPP warns that a Trump re-elec- tion where Europe does not have the support of the United States inside NA- TO, will require closes cooperation with partners such as the United Kingdom and Norway. "We are the political force that stands for a Europe that can defend itself, in line with the principle of stra- tegic autonomy, and support those who fight for Europe and its values." At the same time, the EPP also says this kind of commitment will not preju- dice the specific neutral character of the security and defence policy of certain member states – like Malta for example. Malta would instead get to contribute to a European Fund for External Military Intervention enabling countries that do not wish to mobilise their armed forces for an EU external military operation, to make a financial contribution to the collective European defence. This fund would enable the full costs of operations to be taken into account and shared among member states. The EPP strategy is based on three steps for European defence: ramping up the military-industrial complex with joint military procurement, such as the European Defence Industry Reinforce- ment through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA) and European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP); combining defence with the most advanced computer technologies financed by the next European multi-an- nual financial framework; and ultimate- ly, a single market for defence. "The EU should use the European De- fence Agency (EDA) to provide financial support mainly to defence companies to standardise the systems they produce and encourage more joint defence pro- curement projects in Europe, as well as research of artificial intelligence (AI) for dual purposes (civilian and military)." In this way, the EU will have to priori- tise made-in-Europe military weapons to furnish Ukraine with weaponry to right Russia, apart from common European weapons programmes. The EPP also wants a Commissioner for Security and Defence, as well as a De- fence Council with defence ministers of member states, and of course a European Defence Union that has a dedicated EU defence budget within the MFF. "Our long-term goal is to develop a true European Defence Union with inte- grated European forces in the land, sea, cyber and air. These forces should com- plement national militaries, aligned with NATO's new force model, with a rapid deployment capacity of a permanent and immediately available force." And future defence projects under the EPP would include a missile defence shield, a a European Cyber brigade, a European nuclear shield, and stronger European cooperation of intelligence services. Socialists & Democrats The Labour Party's socialist group in EP says Europe must be a guarantor of peace and be ready to stand up for the United Nations Charter by ensuring its security and defence In a world marked by war, conflict in- side its neighbourhood and rising au- thoritarianism worldwide. "We maintain our unwavering support for Ukraine, providing political, humanitarian, finan- cial and military assistance for as long as needed. Our ultimate goals are to sup- port Ukraine in restoring its territorial integrity and achieve a just and sustain- able peace." "In an increasingly insecure world, the EU must take greater responsibility for its own security and defence," the S&D The European party manifestos and recent statements by group leaders shows that defence, military procurement, and the EU army have entered mainstream policy talk for the European elections of 2024 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt