56 Amendments of Michael GAHLER related to 2020/2257(INI)
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas in November 2020, the EU’s first comprehensive, 360 degree, classified analysis on the full range of threats and challenges the EU faces, or might face in the near future, was prepared cooperatively by the EU member states’ intelligence services; whereas in November 2021,the Vice-President/High Representative (VP/HR) is scheduled to present a draft of the Strategic Compass, which Member States will then discuss and are scheduled to adopt in March 2022; whereas the Strategic Compass aims to facilitate the emergence of a “common European security and defence culture”;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas following the 2016 Joint Declaration, a process of cooperation between the EU and NATO was set in motion, centred around74 common proposals for actions: in the areas of countering hybrid threats; operational cooperation, including at sea and on migration; cybersecurity and defence; defence capabilities; defence industry and research; and exercises supporting Eastern and Southern partners’ capacity- building efforts;
Amendment 48 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas currently the only legal framework for EU-NATO relations continues to be the 2003 “Agreed Framework”, which is limited to the sharing of collective NATO planning structures, assets and capabilities with the EU when it comes to the planning and conducting of EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) military operations in accordance with the “Berlin Plus” arrangement;
Amendment 50 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EU and its Member States have, in particular since the publication of the 2016 EU Global Strategy, intensified their cooperation in the field of security and defence; whereas milestones include the establishment of the European Defence Fund (EDF) (and its precursor programmes), the launch of the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) as well as the agreement on the European Peace Facility (EPF);
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) provides the EU with an instrument to further harmonize member state’s efforts in defence capability development and to identify additional areas for cooperation;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas NATO, through its Defence Planning Process (NDPP), every four years sets its “Level of Ambition” by identifying in qualitative and quantitative terms the pool of forces, equipment and capabilities, that allies should have in their inventories to support the full spectrum of NATO missions and be able to respond to possible threats and challenges;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas in recent months unprecedented levels of high-level EU- NATO interaction took place, such as the first discussion of a NATO Secretary- General with the College of EU Commissioners in December 2020, or the February 2021 participation of the NATO Secretary-General in the European Council;
Amendment 57 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the United States has long called on the EU and its Member States to step up their efforts in terms of investments into their security and defence, as an important contribution to burden-sharing within the alliance;
Amendment 88 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Reaffirms its previous commitment to the EU’s ambitions in the field of security and defence, and reiterates the EU’s ambition to be a global actor for peace and security; underlines the fact that NATO remains indispensable for the security and collective defence of its members and the transatlantic community as a whole; reconfirms its support for transatlantic cooperation, partnership and friendship, which over the past 70 years have been key to Europe’s economic, social and political success, and the fundamental basis for its stability and security since the end of the Second World War;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Underlines that NATO is a valued partner also to EU Member States which are not members of the alliance; recognises that NATO cooperates with some of the non-NATO EU Members inter alia through its Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme and Partnership Interoperability Initiative (PII); recalls that NATO cooperation with non-NATO EU Member States is an integral part of EU- NATO cooperation, and encourages the fullest possible involvement of the non- NATO EU Member States in the alliance’s initiatives;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Pays tribute and respect to all the service members of the transatlantic alliance who fell or were wounded in service, as well as to those currently serving;
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Highlights that the transatlantic community is faced with a broad array of unprecedented common challenges, ranging from the fight against terrorism to hybrid threats, climate change, disinformation, cyber attacks, emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs), and a shifting global power balance, as well as the resulting challenge to the international rules-based order; underscores that the transatlantic community can only successfully manage these challenges by further deepening cooperation and taking partnership to a new level; underlines the fact that both the EU and NATO have unique abilities and strengths which the other lacks and therefore complementarity, advanced cooperation as well as new and real synergies with the other are of utmost importance for maintaining transatlantic security;
Amendment 132 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Is confident that the transatlantic community is fully capable not only of adapting to the new challenges but also of tackling them; expresses its gratitude for the excellent work performed by the numerous EU, NATO and national staff who, around the clock and often without recognition, work hard to protect our citizens;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Commends the key suggestions made by the 2030 NATO independent group of experts, in particular their call for stronger EU-NATO cooperation; endorses the proposals of December 2020 by the Commission President and the VP/HR for an EU-US Security and Defence Dialogue; welcomes the intention of the Biden administration to engage with EU and NATO partners; underlines both the key relevance of the US forces stationed in Europe for Europe’s security and its full commitment to their continued presence; underscores that a strong EU-US partnership is a key element of successful EU-NATO cooperation;
Amendment 152 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Considers that the ongoing and future work being carried out in parallel on both the EU’s Strategic Compass and the expected update of NATO’s Strategic Concept represents a unique opportunity to identify additional synergies in order to further EU-NATO cooperation; underlines that both processes must come to cohesive conclusions; underlines the fact that both processes must complement each other, come to compatible conclusions in identifying common regional and global threats, and define necessary next steps to address them; expresses its vision that the EU Strategic Compass could lay the foundations for an EU contribution to the update of NATO’s Strategic Concept; believes that these processes should separately highlight the added value of each organisation, help define a better division of tasks and, by means of a constant dialogue and close coordination, map out whether the EU or NATO should take the lead in a given field; calls for the relationship between both organisations' unequivocal commitment to solidarity and security, as provided for by Article42 (7) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, to be examined in the review of the Strategic Concept and the drafting of the Strategic Compass while fully respecting the autonomous decision-making of both organisations;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. CWelcomes the NATO2030 strategic reflection process which paves the way towards a revision of NATO’s Strategic Concept with recommendations and ideas regarding NATO’s overall adaptation process; considers that the ongoing and future work being carried out in parallel on both the EU’s Strategic Compass and the expected update of NATO’s Strategic Concept represents a unique opportunity to identify additional synergies in order to further EU-NATO cooperation; calls on all actors involved to use this opportunity to link these processes as closely as possible at both political and technical levels, and to use them as guideposts for future cooperation; underlines that both processes must come to cohesive conclusions; expresses its vision that the EU Strategic Compass could lay the foundations for an EU contribution to the update of NATO’s Strategic Concept; believes that these processes should separately highlight the added value of each organisation, help define a better division of tasks and, by means of a constant dialogue and close coordination, map out whether the EU or NATO should take the lead in a given field;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7a. Emphasises that NATO’s Article 5 as well as the EU’s Article 42.7 TEU and Article 222 TFEU are important instruments for guaranteeing solidarity in a crisis to the members of the respective organisations; recalls that Article 5 was invoked after the September 2001 terror attacks in New York and Washington to express solidarity towards the US and Article 42.7 was invoked after the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris to express solidarity towards France.
Amendment 166 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Believes that the upcoming NATO Summit is an important opportunity to advance EU-NATO cooperation; underlines that the EU is a partner of NATO and that EU-NATO cooperation is mutually reinforcing and based on the agreed guiding principles of transparency, reciprocity, inclusiveness, the decision- making autonomy of both organisations and the principle of the single set of forces; reiterates that a European military capability to act is essential to contribute to the fulfilment of NATO’s core tasks, as well as to enhance deterrence; highlights both the EU’s unique expertise in civilian crisis management and capacity building, notably by the ‘Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability’ (CPCC), as well as its military crisis management by the ‘Military Planning and Conduct Capability’ (MPCC), and the compounding experience of the 37 military operations deployed in the field since 2003, complemented by the assistance provided to military actors of partner countries via the initiative for ‘Capacity Building in support of Security and Development’ (CBSD) and the instrument of the African Peace Facility which has been integrated in the European Peace Facility;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Underlines that the transatlantic partnership benefits from predictable foreign policy-making and multilateral engagement; considers the change of the US administration as an opportunity to reaffirm shared values, such as democracy, the rule of law, multilateralism, peace and prosperity, and to enhance international cooperation in tackling common threats, which could include where possible, joint sanctions;
Amendment 197 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recalls the importance of close transatlantic cooperation in the areas of arms control, disarmament and non- proliferation; furthermore, sees potential for further transatlantic cooperation on a range of international issues, such as maritime security, pandemic response and in the areas of outer space and the fight against terrorism, as well as topics such as our relations with Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan, and the field of “Women, Peace and Security” (WPS);
Amendment 210 #
12. Recognises the important cooperation between the EU and NATO in the Western Balkans, notably through the EUFOR Althea mission; pays tribute to the EU’s CSDP military operation EUFOR Althea, which has been contributing under the Berlin Plus arrangements with NATO to a safe and secure environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina since it took over from NATO’s Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in 2004; welcomes the cooperation between the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and NATO’s Mission in Kosovo (KFOR);
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses its utmost concern regarding the continuous revisionist policies pursued by Russia under President Putin; underscores the need for both NATO and the EU to remain vigilant and to adequately respond to acts of traditional and hybrid aggression and provocation by Russia, such as, in particular, itsnotably the illegitimate and illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, multiple cyber attacks, persistent disinformation campaigns and provocation, especially in the Baltic area; regrets President Putin’s evident rejection of dialogue, and considers Russia’s continued aggressive actions as a threat to Euro- Atlantic security and stability;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recognises that the growing influence and military rise of China need to be met with a coordinated transatlantic strategy; expresses its concern regarding the policies pursued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) when it comes to, among other things, the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong, the treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, threats towards Taiwan or aggressive policies and actions in the South China Sea; further points to the relevance of the fact that China, as a non-democratic regime, has entered into systemic competition with the transatlantic partnership by undermining the rules-based international order, and in turn is attempting to reshape it according to the CCP’s own values and interests; calls for a close observation of Chinese activities in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), especially with regard to its Digital Silk Road initiative, in order to prevent dependencies on infrastructure under control of Chinese companies which carries the risk of unilateral Chinese influence on international norm development in ICT; encourages both organizations to commence a strategic dialogue to develop a joint approach towards China drawing on each organizations’ strengths and capacities in order to achieve the most possible added value based on jointly agreed strategic goals;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recognises that the growing influence and militarys well as military, technological and political rise of China need to be met with a coordinated transatlantic strategy; expresses its concern regarding the policies pursued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) when it comes to, among other things, the suppression of democracy in Hong Kong, the treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang, threats towards Taiwan or aggressive policies and actions in the South China Sea; further points to the relevance of the fact that China, as a non-democratic regime, has entered into systemic competition with the transatlantic partnership by undermining the rules-based international order, which has been built over many decades, and in turn is attempting to reshape it according to the CCP’s own values and interests; recalls China’s increased presence on the international stage as well as in Europe through its Belt and Road Initiative, its activities in cyber space, in the Arctic, in Africa, and its investments in our critical infrastructure in Europe, as well as its documented intellectual property theft;
Amendment 276 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Expresses serious concern that adversaries and competitors of the transatlantic partnership are not only using military but also political and economic, economic, technological and social tools to undermine our societies and democracies; points to the significant security and economic challenges posed by hybrid threats, cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns, which in some cases constitute an attack against the very nature of our democracies; recognises that together the EU and NATO have multiple instruments which can be harnessed to increase the resilience of our societies and ultimately our ability to defend our citizens; underlines the fact that this process must also include, as the basis for ensuring support for our defence activities, a clear public communication strategy to increase public awareness of transatlantic security challenges;
Amendment 290 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Emphasises that both the EU and NATO should further strengthen their capabilities to prevent, deter and respond to hybrid and cyber attacks; suggests the creation of a joint cyber threat information hub, as well as a joint EU-NATO task force for cyber security in order to define and agree on collective responses to cyber threats;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recognises that hybrid and cyber attacks by hostile state and non-state actors lead to a blurred line between war and peace; calls for the EU to further develop its own toolbox for protecting critical infrastructure against hybrid attacks; welcomes the work undertaken in the framework of the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) Consultation Forum on Sustainable Energy in the Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS) to improve the protection of critical infrastructure within the EU;
Amendment 298 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Welcomes the work of the European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid COE), the “Computer Emergency Response Team for the EU Institutions, bodies and agencies” (CERT-EU)and NATO Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) and sees this as a good example of EU-NATO cooperation; believes that common response to cyber threats could be further developed through the Hybrid COE , including by joint courses and training; is convinced that more steps are needed, such as efforts to better integrate civilian and military components, to advance common resilience and hence avert future hybrid threats; points furthermore to EU-NATO potential in shaping global cyber norms;
Amendment 301 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 c (new)
Paragraph 16 c (new)
16c. Notes the rapidity of technological developments, including digitalisation and the increased potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and calls on EU and NATO Member States to seek closer cooperation so that they maintain the technological edge regarding these megatrends, ensure interoperability of their IT systems and jointly strive to develop common ethical standards for these new technologies and to promote them globally;
Amendment 318 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Recognises that space is a critical domain and new technologies are rapidly enabling its use as one of the domains for defence; recognises that this creates both opportunities and challenges for the EU and NATO; acknowledges that NATO’s space operability depends on its Member States’ space-based assets, highlighting the need to enhance cooperation based on existing EU programs such as Galileo and Copernicus; believes that EU-NATO cooperation on space could help promote space safety standards and best practices across the international community;
Amendment 328 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18
Paragraph 18
18. Is convinced that the Member States must increase their efforts to improve the EU’s ability to act with a more capable, deployable, interoperable and sustainable set of military capabilities and forces, which would give the EU the capacity to contribute more equitably to transatlantic security, enable it to achieve strategic autonomy, and further pave the way to progressively frame a European Defence Union (EDU) in line with Article 42 of the TEU; stresses that strategic autonomy strengthens transatlantic security, and by no means aims to decouple from or weaken NATO; underlines at the same time that strategic autonomy not only entails defence capability development, based on a strong and independent European Defence Technological Industrial Base (EDTIB), but also the institutional capacity enabling the EU to act, where possible with partners, particularly with NATO, and independently if necessary; believes that these increased European military efforts will allow the EU to take greater responsibility for European security, to protect the Union and its citizens, and to better promote common EU-NATO interests and values, in particular in the European neighbourhood;
Amendment 341 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underscores the need to advance defence capability development in order to adequately respond to commonly identified threats; believes that EU Member States, especially the 21 jointcommon EU-NATO members, need to act coherently and should consider identifying a clear ‘European level of ambition’ in quantitative and qualitative terms regarding capability development in NATO;level of “European ambition” regarding capability development; while recognising the different natures of the two organisations and their respective responsibilities, encourages stronger efforts by members of both organisations to achieve greater synergies and coordination between the EU’s Capability Development Plan (CDP), the EU’s Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and NATO’s Defence Planning Process (NDPP); to ensure coherence of output where requirements overlap, avoid unnecessary duplications and better respond to new threats; highlights the important role of the European Defence Agency (EDA) in producing the EU Capability Development Plan; underscores that any review of the EU’s objectives must also reflect on its Headline Goals and High Impact Capability Goals; underlines that such a review is fundamental in order to reap the full benefits of initiatives such as PESCO; furthermore, is convinced that the EU must improve the nexus between planning, research and development of capabilities;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Believes that as a long-term objective, the European allies in NATO, supported where possible by non-NATO European partners, as appropriate, should aim to account for half of the forces and capabilities derived under the NDPP in order to ensure adequate long-term burden- sharing inside the alliance; underlines that the transatlantic partnership can only be successful if all Member States fulfil their commitments and engage in mutual support; underlines NATO’s 2 % goal, set at the 2014 NATO Summit in Wal, which would have the added simultaneous effect of enhancing Europe’s ability to defend itself and would consequently also increase its operational capacities;
Amendment 366 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Firmly believes that, based on the unprecedented level of challenges, the EU’s ambitions in PESCO and capability development must cover the full spectrum of force package; recalls that EU investments in defence are investments in the security of the transatlantic community as a whole, which contribute to a more capable “single set of forces” and will result in fairer burden-sharing between transatlantic NATO partners;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 b (new)
Paragraph 20 b (new)
20b. Underscores that Europeans, as far as possible, should look at these strategic challenges in a comprehensive and coherent way through the EU’s ‘integrated approach’ which should be continuously improved through better coordination mechanisms and command structures as well as by taking into account new threats and challenges, and should then consider which capabilities they can develop together which would ultimately both serve the EU Member States’ contribution to NATO’s collective defence, while enhancing the interoperability of their capabilities;
Amendment 370 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 c (new)
Paragraph 20 c (new)
20c. Expresses the expectation that the completion of the Strategic Compass will deepen EU solidarity and help progress towards a common strategic culture among Member States; welcomes the November 2020 first common threat analysis and calls to move forward towards an agreed common threat assessment; considers that the EU's integrated approach could be updated to take into account the findings of the threat analysis undertaken within the Strategic Compass process;
Amendment 371 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 d (new)
Paragraph 20 d (new)
20d. Underlines that the transatlantic partnership can only be successful if all Member States fulfil their commitments and engage in mutual support; underlines NATO’s 2 % goal, set at the September 2014 NATO Summit in Wales; underlines that new threats such as cyber and hybrid are add-ons to the existing security challenges and hence require additional resources; underlines the fact that, as the pandemic has illustrated, security cannot merely be measured in terms of a percentage of GDP spent, and that multiple other elements should also be taken into consideration when judging contribution efforts to enhance the alliance’s common defence; notes that as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, EU and NATO members are faced with economic challenges and expresses its concern that this could lead to a reduction in military spending in absolute figures;
Amendment 373 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underscores the importance of a strong, competitive and innovative European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), which not only secures and creates European jobs but is also essential for enabling the alliance to meet its capability requirements and hence ensure Europe’s safety; calls for further efforts to ensure a fully functional common defence market; highlights the importance of the EDF and calls for a strategic long- term orientation of its project funding; underscores the importance of cooperation between the EDA and NATO and recognises the value of EU defence industrial cooperation within the Trans- Atlantic Defence Technological and Industrial Cooperation (TADIC) and recalls the long-term ambition of building strong transatlantic cooperation in the defence and industrial sector addressing inter alia issues related to security of supplies, common approach to intellectual property rights, foreign direct investments, and equal access to the defence market;
Amendment 375 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Underscores the importance of a strong, competitive and innovative European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), which not only secures and creates European jobs but is also essential for enabling the alliance to meet its capability requirements and hence ensure Europe’s safety; calls for further efforts to ensure a fully functional common defence market; highlights the importance of the EDF and calls for a strategic long- term orientation of its project funding; calls for greater synergies between the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and leading private sector actors developing emerging technologies, like AI, with both civilian and military use;
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Highlights the importance of joint European projects, such as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the Eurodrone, as well as the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), and calls for further ambitious and tangible projects; underscores the relevance of increasing both the participation of non-EU NATO allies in EU defence initiatives, as well as the involvement of non-NATO EU Member States in NATO initiatives, while recalling the principle of decision-making autonomy of both organisations;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls for the conclusion of an administrative arrangement between the European Defence Agency and the US, as well as other non-EU NATO allies as appropriate, to deepen transatlantic defence cooperation;
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty; recalls the need to increase cooperation and investment in the key area of air and missile defence which after the expiration of the INF treaty has become a renewed security risk for European countries in particular;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the extension of the New START Treaty; recalls the need to increase cooperation and investment in the key area of air and missile defence; calls for increased international efforts to develop a new regime for arms control, also including China;
Amendment 404 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Calls for the EU and its institutions, building on the foundation laid by the ‘integrated approach’, to develop both a common security and defence culture, as well as a strategic approach, throughout its policy-making, which should apply in particular to decisions in the fields of trade, supply chain management, investment screening, development cooperation, infrastructure, mobility and digital technologies; underlines that in areas such as hybrid and cyber threats, as well as countering disinformation campaigns, EU institutions are well positioned to develop joint responses; welcomes in this regard the December 2020 Security Union Package and believes that this is a good first step which needs to be swiftly pursued by further actions; recalls the importance of a swift agreement of the NIS2 directive proposal;
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Welcomes the fact that significant amounts of EU funds have been allocated for collaborative defence projects, despite not matching initial ambitions; welcomes the indispensable role of the EU when it comes to enhancing military mobility, and demands a significant increase in efforts made to implement this project particularly through PESCO but also by encouraging Member States to stimulate their industrial bases to propose competitive projects eligible for EU co- funding ; calls for increased synergies on the EU side between the various actors involved; emphasises that a whole-of- government approach involving the EU institutions, NATO, and Member States is necessary for military mobility to succeed; Underlines that military mobility is essential for effective defence and deterrence; welcomes the announced requests and interest by non-EU NATO allies to join the PESCO project on military mobility and encourages further participation in this important flagship project; believes that this project demonstrates both the added value of EU- NATO cooperation as well as the proof of how EU instruments and competences can contribute to NATO’s collective defence; recalls that 38 of the 46 current PESCO projects respond to NATO defence planning priorities and welcomes potential third-country participation in such projects, in line with the provisions of the relevant Council Decision;
Amendment 411 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 b (new)
Paragraph 24 b (new)
24b. Expresses its firm belief that NATO-EU relations need to be upgraded to a real strategic level in order to reach the partnership’s full potential, building on the unprecedented progress already achieved;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for regular special summits with the participation of all NATO and EU Heads of State and Government, and expresses its long-term vision for an EU- NATO Partnership Council; furthermore calls for the creation of a permanent Council of EU Defence Ministers, which should closely liaise with meetings of NATO Defence Ministers; underlines the principle of inclusiveness;
Amendment 419 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Reiterates its previous calls for the EU and NATO to organise regular joint exercises, ensuring the involvement of all Member States and allies; Underlines the principle of inclusiveness, and encourages an increased level of joint informal meetings, as well as joint statements and communications by EU and NATO Institutions’ principals; reiterates its previous calls for the EU and NATO to organise regular, and more ambitious, joint exercises, building on the existing practice of Parallel and Coordinated Exercises (PACE), ensuring the involvement of all Member States and allies, which would serve to enhance mutual EU-NATO understanding and further enhance staff-to-staff cooperation; furthermore notes the need and functional advantage of aiming for common exercises, building on the lesson learned from PACE; encourages an enhanced exchange of unclassified and classified information in future exercises as a first step for the exchange of information in real crisis situations;
Amendment 427 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Welcomes the progress made on the 74 common proposals for action; believes, however, that more political support is needed to ensure full implementation; further calls for the identification of flagship projects, for example in field of the Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (ETDs), modelled after the success of projects such as military mobility, in order to increase ownership and make the cooperation more tangible and results- orientated;
Amendment 435 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
Paragraph 28
28. Acknowledges that in view of the institutional limitations, EU-NATO cooperation to a large extent takes place on an informal and technical staff-to-staff level, limiting at times the active involvement of all Member States; considers these limitations a vulnerability for transatlantic, as well as European security, among other reasons due to the potential blockade of access to NATO structures for EU CSDP operations; believes that this situation is unsustainable and therefore strongly urges all stakeholders to work together in good faith to seek a solution which would render cooperation more formal and predictable on all levels, with a view to building a genuine organisation-to-organisation relationship; at the same time welcomes the discussion about future EU Military command capacities, which must be interoperable and compatible with NATO in order to ensure the most effective operational capacity of the single set of forces;
Amendment 440 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Calls for cooperation and coordination in the Mediterranean between the EU’s EUNAVFOR MED IRINI and NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian; emphasises that both operations contribute to security and stability in the Mediterranean;
Amendment 465 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recalls the importance of effective and clear communication, both in the EU and externally, and calls for closer cooperation between the respective staff of NATO and the EU on strategic communication, especially with regard to countering disinformation; supports ideas to launch centres of excellence for the study of foreign languages, such as Chinese, which must be independent centres, free from political propaganda and foreign control; encourages discussions on launching a “European China Knowledge Endowment”;
Amendment 468 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Calls for actively developing closer ties with like-minded democracies around the world; believes that enhanced security partnerships with countries such as Japan, Australia and India, who together with the US form the so-called Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, as well as South Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan would not only increase our overall security but could help in achieving more effective implementation of global norms and rules, as laid out by multilateral fora such as the United Nations;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Underlines the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and reiterates its previous calls for an enhanced role for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA); recommends that the status of the European Parliament’s delegation in the NATO PA be upgraded to full status, reflecting the importance of EU-NATO cooperation; calls for a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET) of the European Parliament and the United States House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in order to discuss the common security threats to the transatlantic partnership and how an enhanced EU-NATO cooperation could help address them;
Amendment 474 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Commends NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg for his leadership and determination to advance EU-NATO relations, which corresponds to the ambitions and priorities laid out by the EU leadership;