Defense Europe. A. Danjean denounces Me Ashton's inaction in the face of the Libyan crisis

(BRUSSELS2) The chairman of the “Defence” subcommittee in the European Parliament is angry. There are no other words. Arnaud Danjean (UMP / PPE) may be relaxed, when we talk (by telephone), between two sessions in the European Parliament, he remains flabbergasted by the low visibility of the European diplomatic service (EEAS), and especially the absence of the Defense Europe in the Libyan Crisis. "This is not the role of NATO. This is Europe's task. And this one can do very well. She knows how to do" maritime or aerial surveillance, explains the one who followed the Yugoslav crises from 1995 to 2007, in particular during the siege of Sarajevo and then in Kosovo, on the ground or in Paris. The MEP also criticizes the low visibility of the diplomatic service and believes that when it comes to the evacuation of nationals or humanitarian support, "the answer should be more European."

A great absentee: the Europe of defense

« We were told that the Lisbon Treaty was great, that with a European External Action Service, we would thus have an integrated instrument for responding to crises. And today, when we are facing a major crisis, which is taking place on our doorstep, a few kilometers from our shores, there is nothing. Europe is waiting. (...) I am very struck by this European absence. I do not understand why Europe does not get more involved in aerial surveillance."

Planning an action would be the minimum

« I do not automatically say that we must intervene militarily but at least think about it continues Arnaud Danjean. " I am struck by Catherine Ashton's inaction on this matter. She didn't even activate any planning. But planning does not mean acting; it is used to refrain from anything, to anticipate."

LNATO is out of the game, it's up to Europe to intervene

« European defense is typically this type of crisis which integrates several factors. It cannot be NATO that is carrying out this type of operation in the Maghreb, in Libya. It does not have the legitimacy that Europe has. For the Arab world, it represents above all, the United States. There is a cultural and political problem here. Europe with its geographic and cultural proximity, its consensual nature would be more justified in intervening. »

Europe can do

By the way, the deputy destroys a false excuse. " Europe can carry out this type of operation, it knows how to do it. We have already been conducting a maritime operation in the Indian Ocean (Atalanta) for almost three years. And WEU already did this 20 years ago, in Yugoslavia. Statutorily, today WEU is us. And to add: This crisis proves it. Europe must equip itself with an autonomous operational and planning capability. Without waiting »

Lack of visibility of the diplomatic service

More generally, the MEP remains struck by the " bad communication of the diplomatic service. We have not learned the lessons of the past (earthquake in Haiti…) he underlines. " Europe does things but continues not to say it and let it be known ».

Misinformation from the European Parliament

« The European Parliament remains very poorly informed. We received Pierre Vimont, the secretary general of the SEAE. But it's been over a week already. Nothing since. We learn the news from the newspapers or through our Member States. It's not normal ».

Better coordinate evacuations of European nationals and humanitarian support

Arnaud Danjean believes that there are two fronts on which " we are waiting for Europe: evacuations of European nationals and humanitarian support which we can further develop.

On the evacuations of nationals, “ we say that Europe coordinates. But I don't see anything. It went pretty well. But I have the impression that everyone did what they wanted in their corner: the French, the British. And the European follow-up work (NB: MIC) mainly consisted in counting nationals and putting crosses in the columns. We should go further, have a real European, coordinated evacuation mechanism. It's necessary. Not all Member States have the capacity to react or no geographical proximity. The response should therefore be European. »

As for the humanitarian, ECHO (Nb: the European Humanitarian Aid Office) knows how to do it. But we should also have more sustained coordination of military resources, which can provide support at European level. »