The EU’s efforts to fashion a defence identity have been more successful than many
observers expected. EU-badged peacekeeping missions have become commonplace, and are complemented by the European Defence Agency’s drive to end EU governments’ protectionist arms procurement practices. But what of the EU’s plan to establish its own military HQ comparable to NATO’s command and control arrangements? And what steps could counteract defence spending cutbacks across Europe and make the EU’s military outreach truly credible?

President Sarkozy has balanced his intention to return to NATO’s military structure after 40 years’ absence with a call for the EU’s ‘Big Six’ countries to spearhead the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland would all commit to a joint intervention force and to spending 2% of their GDPs on defence. Is the United States as enthusiastic about the latter proposal as it has been about the former? Is it possible that these two French initiatives could break down the stalemate between NATO and the EU’s embryo defence effort?