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EU Defense (Doctrine)

The European Thatcher!

Margaret Thatcher at the Strasbourg European Council in December 1989

(BRUSSELS2) European! Thatcher! In his own way yes. In her speech delivered in Bruges in September 1988 (which I invite everyone to reread because it has the advantage of clarity in ideological matters as well as in arguments), the then British Prime Minister clearly defined what its European design. She advocated a Europe of free enterprise, based on the market, anchored in a solid partnership with the United States, the rejection of a superstate... Notions that have largely infused today even within the European Commission. And Cameron's speech says no more today. One could even say that in some respects Margaret was more European than her successor. Note and note her point on European defence, which she made a key point, with remarks that sound quite current...

His ideas can be summed up as follows:

  • The refusal of a European super-state exercising a new domination from Brussels ". " We certainly want to see a more united Europe, with greater determination. But this new state of affairs must be achieved while preserving the different traditions, parliamentary powers and feelings of national pride. ».
  • Hostility to the CAP, the common agricultural policy. “the share of the budget allocated to agriculture (must be) reduced in order to free up resources for other policies, for example by helping disadvantaged regions to improve vocational training”. A watchword that would today be perceived as revolutionary, several countries wishing to reduce not only the CAP but also regional policy.
  • A Europe “open to business”. " It means taking action to free markets, expand choice, reduce government intervention and therefore drive greater economic convergence.. " (...) " Our aim should not be to manufacture more and more detailed regulations from the center; it must be to deregulate, to eliminate trade constraints, to open up. “ Ideas widely implemented by the various commissions, until the financial crisis intervenes which shows the dangers of this deregulation.
  • Europe should not be protectionist. " The expansion of the world economy demands that we continue the process of eliminating trade barriers (...). We must do everything to ensure that our approach to world trade is compatible with the liberalization that we advocate at home. »
  • But border controls must be retained. " It is obvious that we must facilitate the passage of goods at borders. It is also obvious that we must facilitate the movement of our nationals within the Community. But we cannot totally abolish border controls if we want to protect our citizens against crime and prevent the flow of drugs, terrorists and illegal immigrants. »
  • On the single currency, she expresses her reluctance. " The key question is not whether there should be a European Central Bank ". The free movement of capital must be facilitated so that everyone can invest where it suits them “establishing a market” truly free financial services in banking, insurance and investment " And .... " make more widespread use of the ecu ". We are not yet talking about a single currency. But Mr Thatcher was determined to " issue treasury bills in ecus and hopes to see other Community governments do the same".

Invest in defense

On defense, one of his "ideas-forces", the credo of the "Iron Lady" is clear: " Europe must continue to maintain a secure defense through NATO. "And the WEU - the ancestor of Defense Europe - she sees it more " not as an alternative to NATO, but as a means of strengthening Europe's contribution to the common defense of the West”. But Thatcher was already asking the question of the European defense effort. In words that haven't really changed in 25 years! " There can be no question of relaxing one's effort, even if this involves difficult decisions and a high cost. » And already the question of burden sharing with the Americans. “It is not an institutional problem. It's not about writing reports, but about something much simpler and deeper. It is a matter of political will and courage, and also of conviction: we cannot forever rely on others for our defence, and each member of the Alliance must bear a fair share of the burden. (...)

And to conclude: "The time has come to prove the validity of our statements on the need to make an effort in defense and to better use our means". It doesn't look any better!

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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