EU needs to get rid of taboos for progress on common defence and justice

“If we want our cutting-edge defence technology to remain cutting-edge, we must act together. As we did when approaching the economic crisis. We need a ‘six-pack’ for European defence. With clear commitments and precise objectives. Without taboos. We must be ready, not for war, but to maintain peace. We cannot do this alone,” said the Chairman of the EPP Group, Joseph Daul, during the plenary debate on the preparations of the next European Council (19-20 December 2013).

The summit will focus not only on Economic and Monetary Union, but also on how the EU can make progress on a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). Which is why the EPP Group Chairman suggested using the same method for Defence policy that the EU has used to deepen economic union, with its "six pack" legislation, which strengthens rules on fiscal discipline and budgetary surveillance, as well as on the monitoring and controlling of macro-economic imbalances within the EU.

“During the next legislative term, we must work to reinforce our Common Security and Defence Policy. To protect all our borders. This means working together to reinforce our military response capacity, with joint forces. The way we equip our armed forces must also change. We must pool our sources of research and development as well as of equipment," Joseph Daul pointed out.

The Chairman underlined the need for the European Union to strengthen all its forces and outlined the EPP Group's solidarity with the Ukrainian people:  “Regional powers can threaten some of our strategic interests. If we don’t take responsibility, the Russians will do it for us. Just look at what is going on with our neighbours in Ukraine, in Moldova. I call for a European mediation mission at the highest political level, as during the Orange Revolution, to find democratic and transparent solutions in Ukraine. Ukrainians are telling us something. They are saying we need a strong Europe."

The Chairman of the largest political Group in the European Parliament also called on the European institutions to reflect on the possibility of having a surveillance mechanism for judicial independence in all Member States, that would ensure the rule of law is fully respected.

"The Six-Pack, the European Semester, work. Throughout Europe we are seeing signs of economic recovery. The crisis highlighted to what extent we are interconnected. So, we must work even more together. On the subject of ambition, I wonder whether we do not also need to think about a ‘six-pack’ for judicial affairs. The temptation is real, for some, to neglect their commitments once they have made it into the European club. Europe is a community of values. And of shared responsibilities,” concluded the Chairman.