Policies

FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY

The EPP-ED Group has advocated and pursued a series of consistent goals: the early expansion of the EU to include countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean; the development of a strong common voice for the EU in world affairs, backed by credible and effective institutional machinery; the projection of political and economic stability in regions bordering the Union; the maintenance of strong transatlantic relations, particularly in the context of the global war on terrorism; and the promotion of human rights worldwide.

Some of the aspects of the foreign and security policy of the European Union are highlighted here.

Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is designed to preserve peace and security as well as to safeguard common values, develop democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

The EPP-ED Group has won the support of the European Parliament for the proposal to integrate the office of the CFSP High Representative with that of the Commissioner responsible for external affairs. The Group has also demanded the presentation of an annual report to the European Parliament by the CFSP High Representative. After pressure of the Group the European Parliament has secured the right of access to sensitive security and defence information.

Some of the priorities of the EPP-ED Group for 2004-2009:

Developing Transatlantic ties and enhancing cooperation within a transatlantic strategic community is essential to guarantee stability, security and prosperity in the world. Reinforcing NATO and developing European military capacities. EU-US relations should be promoted by a project enhancing both the political and the economic dimension of the partnership, including the completion of a transatlantic market.
The CFSP should increasingly address horizontal matters (water supply, trade in drugs, diamonds and small arms), which are often either at the origin of or a means for financing regional conflicts.
A partial integration of CFSP into the Community structure, with a European Foreign Affairs Minister supported by a European diplomatic service, composed of both community and national assets, and decision-making by majority vote as a general rule. The democratic control by the European Parliament must thereby also be ensured.

European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)

At the Helsinki and Nice European Councils in December 1999 and in December 2000, new structures in the military and political areas have been set up to enable decision-making in crisis situations. The Amsterdam Treaty incorporated the "Petersberg Tasks" (humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking) laying the development of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).

The EPP-ED Group has put forward proposals to frame a common defence policy. The Group considers that the Petersberg tasks should be revised and expanded to include other tasks involving the use of military resources. The Group is in favour of the establishment of an Armaments and Research Agency with its own budget and has asked for the revision of Article 296 of the EC Treaty with the aim of gradually creating an European armaments market.

Some of the priorities of the EPP-ED Group for 2004-2009:

A genuine European concept in the field of security, which defines a common view and analyses of needs, would serve as a basis towards a European Defence policy at a later stage. The principle of differentiation in the area of military operations would determine the relevant responsibilities in the decision-making process.
An important prerequisite for an effective European defence policy in the longer term is to overcome shortfalls in military capability. These are linked with nationally fragmented defence procurement, leading to dispersing of financial resources.
The European Union needs to formulate a "European Security Strategy". Part of it should deal with adjusting international law and the Charter of the United Nations to the realities of today. It is no longer exclusively conflicts between states that threaten international peace, but more and more also those involving non-state actors.
The European Union needs to adopt a plan for developing European Defence, with strict goals as to the timetable and the content. In the past, this approach has proved to be very successful, as seen with the internal market and the introduction of the single currency. The details of a two-stage plan for European defence have already been adopted by the European Parliament, in the resolution on the new security and defence architecture.
The EU needs to establish a common market for armaments. The Code of Conduct concerning arms exports should be further strengthened. On such a basis, a mutual recognition of arms exports decisions by Member States' governments could be introduced. An agency for defence research and development needs to be created. Such an agency would have to be responsible for the co-ordination of procurement by national armies. Research projects could be centralised or at least be coordinated through a central structure.

It is of the highest importance in today's security situation to ensure inter-operability of the different armies of the Member States. Therefore, we need to make sure that the equipment and the training of all Member States comply with common norms and standards.

Wider Europe

The EPP-ED Group attaches high importance to good relations between the European Union and its new neighbours. This relationship does not only include countries in Eastern Europe, but also neighbouring states around the Mediterranean basin.

The priorities of the EPP-ED Group for 2004-2009:

Intensified co-operation with the enlarged Union's new neighbours (Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus) in the form of a global neighbourhood strategy, in order to develop a zone of prosperity and peaceful and cooperative relations shall be prioritised as well as the further development of co-operation with Russia, this especially on issues of major mutual interest, such as a shared prosperity, democratisation, security policy, energy supplies, nuclear safety, transport or the fight against organised crime and corruption.
Special emphasis shall be put on the Northern Dimension, in particular on the issue of the Oblast of Kaliningrad. Cross-border co-operation, which is of high importance for the balanced development of the region, needs to be promoted.
New impetus must be given to the Barcelona process in the Mediterranean region, notably through the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly, emphasis being put on democracy and the respect of the rule of law, on economic and social development as well as on intensifying cultural dialogue. The Group will strive for the timely implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Zone - as foreseen in the Barcelona Agreements - and for the deepening of its dialogue with its North-West African partners, in order to help them establish the Union of the Arab Maghreb.

South-East Europe

The EPP-ED Group has made serious efforts to bring peace, prosperity and stability to South-East Europe. The Group has supported financial assistance to the countries in the region. The Group will continue to work for the reconstruction and development of the region, with the long-term aim of integrating these countries into the European structures.

Andreas-Renatus Hartmann
Luigi Mazza
Juan Salafranca