Parliament calls for European Defense Union

In a resolution adopted on Thursday during its plenary session here, the European Parliament asked the European Council and the member states of the European Union (EU) to improve the "mutual defense clause" invoked by France following the terrorist attacks of Nov. 13 and to work toward the creation of a European Defense Union.

"If a member state is the victim of an armed aggression on its territory, the other member states shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power," states the existing mutual defense clause. French recourse to this article of solidarity provided by EU treaties is a first in the history of the EU. Until now, it has never been examined in the parliamentary hemicycle. The methods for its application remain undefined, however, as are their consequences on the functioning of the EU.

France invoked the mutual defense clause after the terrorist attacks which led to 130 deaths in Paris on Nov. 13, 2015. France requested EU member states provide aid and assistance in order to fight against the so-called Islamic State, including the exchange of intelligence information.

In its resolution, the Parliament praised the unanimous support shown to France by all EU member states and encouraged them to follow through on their contributions for as long as necessary. But they insisted also on the necessity to "develop and adopt as quickly as possible a political framework" for the mutual defense clause.

Managing aid and assistance obliged by the clause in a bilateral manner will not be possible for all member states, alerted the Members of European Parliament (MEPs). The Parliament "is profoundly convinced that all national, bilateral and multilateral actions taken following the activation of the mutual defense clause must be notified to the council and simultaneously made public," they declared.

The European Commission must propose practical arrangements in order to ensure an efficient collective response for similar circumstances in the future, demanded MEPs, so that the decision made by France could "serve as a catalyst" for a real debate on EU defense and security policy.

It is "a unique opportunity to establish the grounds for a strong and sustainable European Defense Union...ready to face the overwhelming internal and external security threats," underlined the resolution.

MEPs also argued that the EU needed a permanent civil-military headquarters in order to prepare contingency plans, among other things, for collective defense.

They called as well for EU member states to research solutions so as to create more effective cooperation between border control agencies, police, and other security services, to improve the exchange of intelligence on arms and explosives trafficking, as well as the movements of suspected terrorists.

The non-binding resolution was approved by 406 votes in favor, with 212 against and 51 abstentions. Endite