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EP urges Europe to gear up for new security challenges

Xinhua, May 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) and its member states must shoulder more responsibility for security and defense, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said in a resolution voted on Thursday.

The EP demanded that the EU responds to current instability on its borders by forging a stronger strategy to meet new security challenges in its annual resolution, drafted by French centre-right MEP Arnaud Danjean, on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It was passed by 361 votes to 236, with 54 abstentions.

MEPs urged member states to use CSDP tools more effectively, improve the fit between external and internal security measures, and pool and share resources, so as to counter terrorism, fight organized crime, strengthen cyber-defense and cope with migration.

The EP regretted that despite pledges made by EU leaders at their December 2013 summit, no substantial practical progress has been made in equipping the union with the operational and industrial resources it needs to prevent and manage international crises and to assert its own strategic autonomy.

A clear and concrete boost to European defense must be given at the European Council meeting on security and defense on June 25 and 26, said MEPs, who called on foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to lead the efforts.

Civilian missions and military operations must become "genuine and effective tools of an overall action strategy," the resolution asserted, especially in the EU's neighborhood. The EP also called for a coherent EU strategy to protect critical infrastructure against cyber-attacks.

In a separate resolution, the Parliament said that funding for EU civilian missions and military operations must be adapted to new needs.

The second resolution, passed by 347 votes to 248, with 44 abstentions, called on member states to "improve efficiency, show solidarity and match words with deeds" in funding the costs of operations and supplying forces for them.

MEPs also call on the European Commission and EU states to do more to create a genuine EU defense market. In a resolution drafted by Portuguese MEP Ana Gomes, they insisted that an efficient single market, based on common rules, is vital for the development of a competitive technological and industrial base for the European defense sector. Endit