European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on Wednesday the creation of a “European Security Council,” a new mutual security alliance that would unite EU member countries with Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, and other countries, which could function as a reduced NATO.
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During her annual State of the Union speech in the European Parliament, the community leader defended the urgency of creating this “new security strategy,” which will allow coordinating responses to the growing security threats facing the continent. “This is even more urgent now, given the nature and magnitude of the risks at stake. Therefore, we will present our ideas to make a European Security Council a reality,” she stated.
Yves Herman / Reuters
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“We are strengthening our collaboration with NATO. However, our doctrine, institutions, and decision-making mechanisms have not evolved at the pace of the new reality,” Von der Leyen acknowledged.
Just like NATO’s Article 4, the EU should also create a new “security protocol,” which any member state whose territory was attacked could activate to call on the others. “I believe the time has come for Europe to have its own ‘Article 4,’ or in other words, an emergency security protocol. When a member state activates it, all member states would meet to coordinate a European response, in order to prevent further escalation and mitigate the consequences,” the president explained.
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“The fate of Europe must be in the hands of Europeans,” Von der Leyen said, appealing to the unity and collaboration of the 27. “So let us not only fight against this (Russian threats), but let us fight together for the European project,” she insisted.
Von der Leyen revealed her new proposal in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who attended the most important plenary session of the European Parliament to strengthen ties with the community bloc. The community leader assured that she wants the transatlantic partner to become the bloc’s first associated country. “I would like to work with you to open the door for Canada to become the EU’s first associated member,” she declared. Carney, who was applauded twice by European legislators during the speech, is scheduled to address the European Parliament this Thursday.
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