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We must cooperate more, explains General Syren who denounces the reluctance of States

H. Syren in Parliament (archives 2010 - European Parliament)

(BRUSSELS2) The chairman of the EU's military committee, who is also the military adviser to the High Representative of the EU, made a kind of stocktaking intervention before the deputies of the defense sub-committee of the European Parliament, Wednesday (July 11). General Håkan Syrén will indeed leave in November. (The MEPs are also considering organizing a final session with him in October). For this supporter of the Europe of defence, today there are no other means than to " strengthen military cooperation " in Europe. It is his intimate conviction. According to him, it is necessary to merge budgets, but also cultures, etc. A very slow process. " You have to be patient, you have to reach a consensus ". The economic crisis is a major problem. But there is also what must be called a lack of political will on the part of the Member States to cooperate, to break old habits. Habitual selfishness. The general didn't say it, but there are also certain corporatisms that go against the grain...

The economic crisis has an impact on EU foreign policy

The European External Action Service (EEAS) “will play a pro-active role ". But he confessed, the challenges are greater than expected. There was the economic crisis which spread very widely. The CFSP is no longer the first priority ". " Actions don't follow commitments, because that's easier said than done. And States also have limited capacities. "" Some commitments made others impossible he confessed, referring to Afghanistan. It remains to be seen what will happen, for example, to the proportions of NATO after the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Beware, however” security is not something taken for granted ».

It's not just a budget problem, states are dispersing too much, closing in on themselves

General Syren went to the " almost all member states ". " I have a clear idea of ​​the difficulties. On always asking to do more with less ". The operations have a high cost andbudget cuts have made the problem more visible ". "The basic problem is that defense is becoming more and more expensive. And we spread too much. It's not just a money story ". The cumulated budget of the Member States corresponds to 200 billion per year, it is a third of the budget of the USA, but that being said, it is also more or less the same budget as that of the big five (China, India, Russia, . .. ). " There are opportunities for improvement, better performance and therefore to strengthen cooperation. "" If Member States could coordinate their violins, there would be good results ". " There is a contradiction - notes the general. When a Member State is under pressure, if we cooperate, things are better. But generally, we close in on ourselves when there is a problem. »

Thinking on another level is a matter of mindset

If the Member States want to counter the economic crisis, smart defence, sharing and pooling, coordination are also necessary tools. Like the good cooperation at European level. So " the European Defense Agency works hand in hand with the military committee » “Now you have to think on another level. It is a question of state of mind. We must insist with political momentum.” General Syren however denotes “positive signs within the Union, an awareness. It was Herman Van Rompuy, the President of the European Council who, in Chicago at the NATO summit, came out in favor of a " Union (which) is mobilizing to play a greater role », the Commission which, concerned about strategic fragmentation, created a Defense task force. And Hakan Syren to drive the point home: “ It's not a question of money. The challenge is to improve efficiency in order to continue to influence the evolution of the balance of power ».

The EU, NATO, different roles during the crisis

On the distribution of roles between the EU and NATO, he drew a boundary. According to him, the strength of the European security and defense policy is to be " early and therefore preventive ". For example, " in Kinshasa in 2006, the Artemis mission with rather special forces made it possible to avoid, I am sure, a genocide. " However, " if the conflict ignites, there NATO is really the suitable organization. " Next, " for reconstruction, the EU also has the toolbox to act on all aspects. “The EU also has more” capacity in terms of evacuation assistance or humanitarian aid.” (...) There " added value of the Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP), however, remains its ability to use military and civilian capabilities effectively » and the overall approach is « keystone of the success of CSDP. The Atalanta (anti-piracy) and Nestor (maritime capacity building) missions are there to testify to this, as “ the touchstones of the comprehensive approach ».

(written with the help of D. Kerlouet who attended the meeting)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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