Michel Barnier, Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, opened the debate by stressing that in spite of the economic crisis and the defence budget cuts, it is important for European defence industries and markets to remain globally competitive as a means to maintaining Europe’s strategic autonomy. Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency, remarked that in this period of crisis it was even more necessary to avoid duplication, to keep up efforts with research and development, to encourage the member states to do more with less resources and to minimise the risk of Europe becoming industrially dependent on third parties. Christian Ehler, Member of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence, cautioned against being over ambitious by outlining the formidable challenges the EU will face over the next 10 years in maintaining defence spending. Daniel Calleja-Crespo, Deputy Director and Special Envoy for SMEs at the European Commission, sounded an optimistic note by stating that even in the context of the current crisis there are many ways to secure an industrial base on defence and security in Europe by supporting the internal market.

 

Drawing from the experiences of the ongoing eurozone crisis and the Arab uprisings, panellists Jan Borkowski, Polish Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Francis Delon, French Secretary General for Defence and National Security, Ivan Soltanovskiy, Director of European Cooperation at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Pierre Vimont, Executive Secretary General of the EEAS stressed that the EU should work closer with regional and international partners to meet security challenges in the EU’s own neighbourhood and beyond.

 

Speakers stated that the drive for further economic integration should not undermine the development of the EU’s capabilities under security and defence. Instability and frozen conflicts in Europe’s neighbourhood, remarked speakers, will continue to give the EU impetus to further develop its defence and security capabilities. Added to this, given the importance of US defence budget cuts, Asia’s rise and the importance of the BRICS, were calls from the speakers for Europe to start thinking and acting strategically in its neighbourhood and globally.