Lettre Réseau ED au Président de la Commission européenne

Berlin,

To : Mr Jean Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission

Dear Mr President,

Dear Commissioners,

EURODEFENSE, a network of fourteen national not-for-profit Associations, working

together, to promote and contribute to the setting up of credible and effective European

Defence, has maintained relations with national and European authorities for many years,

taking up a clear positive stance concerning the development of the Common Defence and

Security Policy (CSDP).

While you have just taken over your new responsibilities, we would like to congratulate you,

in this crucial period, on your nominations as President and we would like to draw your

attention to our view of the challenges for the EU in this field and the key role which should

be played by the Commission .

Events in the Ukraine and the Middle East are of great concern and make it essential that

Europe works together effectively in its response to crises. They lend urgency to the agenda

set out. Taking into account serious worries in professional and military circles, and beyond,

European policies need to have drive and focus and it needs to have a clear understanding of

how military capability fits into the instruments at its disposal, so that decisions can be taken

in a timely way. This letter concentrates on industrial aspects which fall within the

competence of the Commission.

Repeated cuts in national defence spending as well as the increasing lack of appropriate

individual or joint defence capabilities in European countries mean that further postponement

of effective decision-making endangers our collective security. EURODEFENSE considers

the coming five years of critical importance to establish and implement a well-founded and

credible CSDP for the sake of European security and influence. More than ever the

geopolitical situation requires a clear definition of European defence.

Last December (2013) the European Council defined objectives to foster quality and cost-

effectiveness while rectifying fragmentation of European defence markets that undermines the

sustainability and competitiveness of Europe’s defence and security industry. Therefore the

Commission and EDA are mandated to take necessary and coordinated steps which

EURODEFENSE strongly endorses.

In a Communication last July, the Commission presented a roadmap based on the initiatives

that have been taken and/or intensified. Close cooperation between the Commission, the

Member States, the EEAS and the EDA is required to carry out a substantial list of actions.

EURODEFENSE underlines that the importance of the role of the Commission, together with

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EDA, can hardly be overrated. In each of the relevant areas – Internal market, R&D, industrial

policy – the Commission should now put forward ideas and prepare necessary legislation as

well as to initiate projects and bring public and private partners together. Priorities and

deadlines should be set on the way to the European Council of June 2015. Proposals

concerning the funding of military R&D should take into account the decreased funding by

Members States as well as the necessity for an EU budget for this purpose.

EURODEFENSE believes that this approach is the only viable method to make sufficient and

effective progress. It is also the only method to stimulate required synergies between

Ministries of Defence as well as between governments and industries. It is politically most

important to promote a coherent approach at EU level among all parties concerned. All

Member States prepared to take part in cooperation between the willing should be encouraged

to do so.

The stakes are high. Intensified cooperation and integrated projects are key to European

defence and European armed forces as well as to building up of a credible and trustworthy

CSDP. European citizens and society are directly concerned when it comes to their security

and defence, and well-being. Public opinion will only be convinced if concrete European

perspectives and results are presented. The Annex to this letter gives more details of our

findings.

EURODEFENSE believes that now is a critical time for common initiatives in European

defence. It trusts that the proposals of your Commission will unequivocally promote that

objective. It believes that progress in this area will contribute not only to better value for

money in the field of defence, but also to enhance the urgently confidence in the ESDP .

To that end EURODEFENSE is prepared to sustain initiatives of the new Commission

through its whole network, and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with

you or your officials

Yours faithfully,

Admiral Lutz Feldt (retd)

President, EuroDéfense-Deutschland

President in Office, EURODEFENSE

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Lettre complète avec les annexes en pièce jointe