Conference on the EU security strategy - News - National Security Bureau

25.10.2011

Conference on the EU security strategy

On 24-25 October 2011 the Presidential Palace held a conference "Rethinking the European Security Strategy" dedicated to discussing amendment of the European Security Strategy. The conference was organised by the Institute of International Relations of the University of Warsaw and the Foundation for Strategic Research, French think-tank. The National Security Bureau took the conference under its wing.

During the first day, participants discussed the identity and nature of the EU security policy, including how the union’s institutions influence its development. Moreover, the debate concerned changes that took place in international environment, the impact of the „Arab Spring” and transformations in the eastern neighbourhood on the EU security policy as well as relations with the United States of America, Russia, China and other strategic partners.

During the second day, the debate focused on strategic potential of the EU – economic, industry (defence industry) and diplomatic. The last panel was dedicated to the operational capabilities and conclusions drawn from the recent civil and military missions carried out by the EU.

The conference was opened by Minister Stanisław Koziej. Below, we present the opening speech.

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Welcome to the Presidential Palace. I am very pleased to see so many great experts from the best research and academic centres around Europe undertaking a discussion about the future of the European security and strategy policy. Starting in 2010 National Security Strategic Review, the National Security Bureau supports strengthening the Common Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). One of the main steps in this direction is adjusting the European Security Strategy (ESS) to new requirements and conditions. In other words – we believe that it is necessary to amend the ESS.

Despite having political and economic potential to be a global leader, the European Union still struggles with its foreign policy. It also concerns the military field. In 2010 European expenses for the defense visibly decreased. It seems that such trend will be sustained in the future. And in the meantime, the challenges, risks and threats are not getting fading. They become more complex and sophisticated.

Therefore, the discussion on the ESS is definitely needed. Nowadays, no one doubts that we struggle with the ESDP. Our issues, however common and serious, result not only from natural - in large community such as the EU - differences in national interests, but also from the fact that the strategic roadmap of the EU that is the ESS is quite rusty. Therefore, allow me to ask few questions that are worth answering during today and tomorrow’s panels. Starting from the basic one: does the ESS still square with the current security environment? The latest decade was the time of dynamic changes in the EU surroundings (North Africa, Middle East, Arctic), new global system of powers has shaped (China, India, Brazil), new quality of security scopes have appeared (energy security, cyber security), and finally it was the time of financial crisis at the very core of the EU.

It is worth discussing how the Lisbon treaty legacy should be reflected in the ESS. The Treaty introduced several institutional changes in the field of the Common European Foreign and Security Policy, including the CSDP. In my opinion, including the new competence and mechanism division would facilitate “operationalization” of the ESS.

I believe that we should use NATO experiences in the ESS amendment. So far, NATO strategic concept have been updated more or less once a decade. If the EU was to do it similarly, and it seems more than arguable, than the debate predeceasing the process should have already started.

The NSB suggest concurring to update the ESS by initiating and carrying out the EU Security Policy Strategic Review that could be closed by publishing the White Paper on the EU security and defence policy. The EU Security Policy Strategic Review could be carried out by for example the Wise Men Group appointed by the President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The White Paper could trigger broad public debate on the EU security and defense policy. During the time of financial crisis the public discussion could rationalise the thinking about the security and thereby ensure proper relation between the needs and expenses for the security and defense as well as enforce optimisation of the use of those expenditures that is to contribute to something that we could call „smart security”.

It is worth noticing that from the perspective of shaping the CSDP, the system of presidency in 2012 is not very advantageous. Neither Denmark nor Cyprus will, for many different reasons, be interested in development of the EU security policy. It seems that this may enhance the continuity requirements for Polish presidency in the field of the CSDP. In spite of that, the NSB plans to continue the works on amending the ESS.

Hoping that you will contribute to this initiative, I would like to wish you fruitful discussion in the Presidential Palace, the place that is particularly important both for Poland and Europe. It is here, that the Warsaw Pact, one of the political and strategic compasses of the former international order was signed in 1955. However, it is here that the “Round Table” talks of 1989 started the process of democratic constitutional transformations in Poland and East-Central Europe, which finally resulted in the annihilation of the Warsaw Pact and the end of the Cold War. Therefore, there is no doubt that it is the right place for discussing the most fundamental issues of security including the security within the EU. Thank you for your time and I wish you interesting discussion awaiting its fruitful and interesting results.