№195: In Search of Direction: EU Strategic Compass
№195: In Search of Direction: EU Strategic Compass

Author(s): Marcin Terlikowski
Contributor(s): Sławomir Dębski (Editor), Patrycja Sasnal (Editor), Wojciech Lorenz (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: EU; foreign policy; security; military policy; strategy; NATO;
Summary/Abstract: Strategic Compass may provide momentum for EU defence cooperation, speed-up development of military capabilities in Europe, reinforce NATO’s defence and deterrence, and reduce transatlantic tensions over burden-sharing. Yet, some Member States are concerned about the negative effects of this strategising exercise on NATO, and may not implement its results if the EU military level of ambition is set too high. Hence, the Compass should take a middle-of-the-road approach: EU ambitions should be defined in terms of the ability of the Member States to provide decisive capabilities to crisis management operations run within different frameworks (UN, NATO, or coalition-led), while the EU itself should finally deliver on the promise of running autonomous rapid-reaction operations, deploying battle group-sized forces.

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