Wake up Sleeping Beauty! (Jean-Claude Juncker)
(B2 in Prague) During the high-level conference on defence, organized by the Czech Republic, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker called for a start, for a European awakening.
He wasn't the only one. In turn, the Czech Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka and the High Representative of the Union, Federica Mogherini, repeated this message... It is time to act!
Sharing sovereignty is not giving up
In terms of security, there are different decision-making cultures in Europe “, recognized Jean-Claude Juncker. " But today we are faced with a question of sovereignty. Sharing sovereignty does not mean giving it up. On the contrary ! [...] It is no longer a question of national sovereignty. It's a question of European sovereignty »
Common Threats Require Common Action
"How much longer can we pretend that countries that are so closely linked, as we are in the European Union, do not also have to confront external threats together" he added
NATO should not be used as an excuse to do nothing
If NATO remains angular stone "of European security", competition between NATO and the EU is not [anymore] an option". But " respect for NATO should no longer be used as an easy excuse for not making more efforts at European level »
No other choice but to become an adult
“Our American partners (…) are no longer interested in guaranteeing Europe's security on our behalf. We have no choice but to take charge of the defense of our own interests. »
Wake Sleeping Beauty
« Since 2003 recalls the one who was there at the top of the Pralines (Read: At the top of the pralines. A European headquarters before the end of 2004?), minds have evolved. There is " more and more people who believe in the Europe of defense "..." The time has come to reawaken the Sleeping Beauty of the Lisbon Treaty: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) ».
In... defense of Europe
And the President of the Commission concludes: “ The appeal that I am making today is not only an appeal in favor of the Europe of defense — it is also an appeal in favor of the defense of Europe. »
(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)
