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THE STATE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
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5. Foreign and defence policy
– Donald Trump’s election and Brexit (each of which undermines support
for European security) represent both challenges and opportunities for
the EU to act as a major global power. To achieve this, there will need
to be a coalition of the willing between EU institutions and the leading
pro-European member states that wish to make progress in foreign and
defence policy.
– The EU needs to complete its Foreign Policy provisions by establishing
its own integrated military force. Without such a move, the EU will not
be able to help re-establish peace, take military action to bring an end
to war, deal with threats to European security or protect civilian
populations that are affected by conflict.
– The EU needs to establish a Europe of Defence and Security if it is to
be able to act with strategic autonomy. This can be done within the
framework of the Global Defence and Security Strategy through
permanent structured cooperation funded by the European defence
fund announced by the Commission, by individual countries and, if
necessary, through strengthened cooperation in this specific area.
– The EU should open an internal debate to address the failed Transatlantic
Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the USA. This review
should place an emphasis on social issues, putting trade and investment
at the service of jobs and not vice versa. The agreement should be part
of a pan-European strategy for sustainable global development,
economic growth, the generation of high-quality jobs, and public
support for R&D+i.
– The EU should unequivocally distance itself from the positions taken by
the new US administration with regard to trade (protectionism),
migration (restrictions on Muslim countries), and energy and climate
change (disregarding the Paris climate change agreement). Likewise,
the EU should make clear its disapproval of Trump’s aggressive stance
towards China, his boycott of the nuclear agreement with Iran
regardless of the latter country’s compliance, or his advocacy of a
unilateral solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.