Activities of Geoffrey VAN ORDEN related to 2019/2135(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - Annual report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (debate)
Annual report on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - Annual report on the implementation of the common security and defence policy (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report PDF (257 KB) DOC (95 KB)
Amendments (50)
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the enormous impact on potential EU defence capabilities of the departure of the UK, one of the most effective European military powers from the EU,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 a (new)
Citation 21 a (new)
- having regard to Russia's illegal invasion and annexation of Crimea,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 b (new)
Citation 21 b (new)
- having regard to the Intermediate Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty, Russia's repeated violations including the development and deployment of 9M729 ground-launched cruise missile systems and the US and Russian withdrawal from the Treaty,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 c (new)
Citation 21 c (new)
- having regard to Russia's violation of airspace and maritime borders of member states,
Amendment 8 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 d (new)
Citation 21 d (new)
- having regard to China's increase in economic and military presence in the Mediterranean and African countries,
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 e (new)
Citation 21 e (new)
- having regard to the threat of domestic and foreign terrorism, primarily from groups such as ISIS and Al Qaeda,
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 21 f (new)
Citation 21 f (new)
- having regard to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, space capabilities and quantum computing which present new opportunities for mankind, but also create new challenges in defence and foreign policy that require a clear strategy and consensus among allies,
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
Amendment 68 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Notes that the Union has been slow to react and adapt – politically, diplomatically and militarily – to new crises and to this new international context; considers that, in the specific area of defence, there has been insufficient investment, differences in capabilities and a lack of interoperability, but also, and above all, a political reluctance to implement the robust provisions provided for in the European treaties and the numerous cooperation arrangements between Member States have weakened the Union’s ability to play a decisive role in external crises; recognises, further, that no country is able by itself to address the security challenges on the European continent and in its immediate environment;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Welcomes, in this adverse and volatile context, the belated but real recognition of shared security interests and the growing political will on the part of European countries and the European institutions to act collectively for their security by endowing themselves with greater means to act autonomouslydecisively; welcomes also the great increase in US commitment to European security, not least through its enhanced $6 billion European Deterrence Initiative and the increase in its Forward Military Presence in Europe;
Amendment 94 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Is convinced that the response to the Union’s security challengesdefence and security of the Union lies primarily in strengthening its strategic autonomythe Atlantic Alliance;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Welcomes and supports Operation Atlantic Resolve and NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence on the European continent and recognises the importance of NATO troops in the effort to deter further Russian aggression and provide crucial support in the event of a conflict;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 b (new)
Paragraph 7 b (new)
7 b. Recognizes European involvement and support for Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan; further recognizes the importance of this mission to the stability and security of Afghanistan and the region;
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Paragraph 7 c (new)
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers that the principle of European strategic autonomy is based on the ability of the Union to strengmistaken idea that the EU is better able thean its freedomNATO or our nations to assess, take decisions and take action where circumstances so require in order to defend its interests and valuesto defend the interests and values of our citizens while some European countries might well embark on low intensity military operations, it is difficult to imagine circumstances where European countries would engage in major combat operations without the support of NATO Allies and therefore urges renewed commitment to the revitalisation of the Alliance;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
Amendment 145 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses that strategic autonomy can only be genuinely achieved if Member States demonstrate solidarity, which is reflected in particular in the need to prioritise the procurement of European capabilities where equipment is available and competitive with the primary objective being to ensure interoperability with major Allies and avoid duplication among European forces to facilitate rapid deployment in as seamless a manner as possible;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Maintains that European strategic autonomy must take practical form in the areas of industry, capability (joint programmes, investment in defence technologies) and operations (financing of operations, capacity building for partners, capacity to plan and conduct missions) and can be based upon the successes of the NATO Industrial Advisory group and be complementary to the existing commitments of Member States who are part of the Transatlantic Defence Technological and Industrial Cooperation (TADIC);
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers that Europe’s defence is based largely on the Union’s capacity to intervAcknowledges that CSDP activities are small-scale operations within the European periphery and have limited manpower and objectives recognizes that the EU cannot replicate or replace the command and defence militarily, in a credible manner, in external theatres of operationsplanning structures of NATO and its role as the cornerstone of European defence;
Amendment 191 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Member States and European bodies to prioritise and maintain a high level of commitment in Africa; welcomes, therefore, the Council’s decision of July 2018 to extend the mandate of the EUTM RCA military training mission for two years and its intention to launch a civilian mission to complement the military component; notes that these recent developments are a positive sign of re-engagement on the part of the Member States; acknowledges that closer cooperation with existing regional forces such as the African Union, G5 Sahel Force and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as the US, are essential to successful operations in Africa;
Amendment 225 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Deplores the lengthy decision- making and implementation processes; points out that very few recent military operations have been given an executive mandate because of the different speeds at which commitment decisions are made, and calls, in this connection, for changes to CSDP structures and procedures so that missions can be deployed in a more rapid, flexible and coherent manner; notes the use of a new crisis management tool – the launching of mini-missions under Article 28 TEU – with a view to responding to crises more quickly and flexibly; calls for mission construction to be complementary to NATO's Readiness Action Plan (RAP) and Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VTJF) to avoid duplication and better support joint mission objectives;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Stresses the need to assess missions and operations on a regular basis in order to make them more effective; calls on the EEAS and the Commission to draw up mandates and budgets which are appropriate to the operations concerned and to provide for an exit strategy; calls, in that connection, for more regular consultations with the relevant parliamentary committees, and calls on the latter to focus their missions and delegations on areas where CSDP missions and operations are deployed; calls for the European Court of Auditors to conduct a review of all ongoing CSDP missions to ensure that their budgets and forces are being deployed in the most effective way; further calls for all ongoing CSDP missions to have a formal end date, which is subject to a full and comprehensive review before consideration of any extension is given;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Recalls the importance of organising joint training and exercises between European and US armed forces, thereby promoting interoperability, with a view to maximising mission preparedness and addressing a broad range of threats, both conventional and non-conventional;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35
Paragraph 35
35. Believes that the implementation of CSDP missions and operations must be backed up by flexible instruments in order to make it easier for the Union and its Member States to commit to ensuring European strategic autonomyoperational successes on the ground, in the service of the stability of the European continent; stresses, in this connection, the effectiveness of modular, multipurpose and genuinely operational command structures, such as the European Corps (Eurocorps); notes that the missions of this command structure have been successfully extended and diversified: between 2015 and 2018 the European Corps was deployed four times as part of the EU training missions in Mali and the Central African Republic (EUTM Mali and EUTM RCA); calls on the Member States and the Commission to follow this example of flexible and operational cooperation, which has already proved valuable and effective;
Amendment 289 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 36
Paragraph 36
36. Expects the Union to make effective use of all existing CSDP policy instruments in the areas of diplomacy, cooperation, development, conflict management and peacekeeping; stresses that CSDP military and civilian instruments cannot, under any circumstances, be the only solution to security issues and that a ‘comprehensive approach’ should always be adopted; considers that only the use of all these instruments on the basis of a ‘comprehensive approach’ will provide the flexibility needed to effectively achieve the most ambitious security objectives;
Amendment 310 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 38
Paragraph 38
38. Welcomes the significant reversal of the trend of cutting defence budgets as a result of the Defence Investment Pledge made at the NATO Summit in Wales in 2014; is of the opinion that this should be supported and encouraged at Union level;
Amendment 344 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 42
Paragraph 42
42. Welcomes the effective implementation of Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) as an important step towards closer cooperation in security and defence among Member States; stresses that this provision, introduced in the 2009 Lisbon Treaty (Article 46 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), is legally binding and includes a set of ambitious commitments to enable European countries wishing to do so to move ahead faster on common defence projects; recognises the role that PESCO can play in structuring European demand; notes that a significant number of EDIDP- eligible projects are being developed within the PESCO framework and may also benefit from higher rates of subsidy; supports full consistency between PESCO projects and the EDF; calls for the closest possible access to PESCO for third countries, acknowledging that such countries' defence industries have expertise, related instruments and capabilities that EU Member's industries could benefit from;
Amendment 364 #
45. Questions the slow start-up of the 34 projects and the delays to the launch of a third wave of 13 projects, given that none are as yet up and running; notes that only four projects will reach their initial operational capacity in 2019; highlights the lack of ambition and scale of some projects, which do not address the most obvious capability gaps, particularly those in the first wave, which are primarily capability projects involving as many Member States as possible; notes that the desired inclusion of participation in PESCO projects should not jeopardise a high level of ambition on the part of the participating Member States; considers that third countries’ involvement should be subject to stringent conditions and based on established and effective reciprocity; calls on the Member States to submit projects with a strategic European dimension, thereby strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB), which is an essential part of the strategic autonomisation process and relates more to the operational side in order to respond directly to the operational needs of European armed forces while avoiding any duplication of existing capability initiatives;
Amendment 368 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 46
Paragraph 46
46. Stresses the still virtual nature of the European Defence Fund; points out that that this instrument has not yet been finally approved, with only partial and political agreement having been given in April 2019; stresses the importance of maintaining Parliament’s position concerning the amount of the EDF, the involvement of third countries and the establishment of an appropriate intellectual property policy in relation to security and defence in order to protect research results; draws attention, in that connection, to the highly sensitive and strategic nature of defence research, both for industrial competitiveness and for the strategic autonomy of the Union; calls for the initial lessons learned from the implementation of the EDIDP (in particular concerning the application of derogations for eligible entities), the pilot project and the preparatory action on defence research to be properly taken into account; calls on the Member States to be fully involved in the decision-making process in order to avoid bureaucratic excesses and to ensure that the programmes included address the strategic needs of the CSDP and the Member States; considers that the success of the EDF will depend on its ability to cater for the specific defence needs of the participating states and to guarantee the availability of sufficient budgetary resources, whilst ensuring that industrial know-how is not duplicated, national defence investment is not crowded out and cooperation does not become over-complicated; considers that developing the European defence industry by regulating access for entities controlled by non-EU third parties to projects financed by the Fund is fully consistent with the European ambition of strategic autonomy; , SME engagement is supported by incubation and capital investment and cooperation does not become over-complicated; considers that 22 Member States are committed under their NATO membership to commit 20% of their defence expenditure on investment in new capabilities and therefore should isolate part of this budget specifically towards research and development to guarantee a minimum expenditure in R+D; EDF should collaborate actively with NATO in order to facilitate transatlantic technological and industrial development in a manner that removes barriers and protectionism and ensures export licensing processes/technological transfer policies are harmonized among Member States; special consideration should be given to the development of a task force between EDA and NSPA/NCIA for developing a roadmap on identifying ideal equipment for procurement and to generate the best value on defence expenditure;
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 47
Paragraph 47
47. Hopes that decisions on the participation of third parties in PESCO projects will under no circumstances undermine the conditions agreed in the negotiations on the EDF and the EDIDP, given the purely European and that cooperation with a post-Brexit UK and our transatlantic partners is encouraged regardless of the nature of the financing of these programmes;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 48
Paragraph 48
48. Stresses the strategic dimension for Europe of the space sector, and emphasises the need to make progress in developing technologies with both civilian and military uses which are capable of ensuring European strategic autonomysupporting CSDP operations and objectives; welcomes the inclusion in the next MFF of the Commission’s EUR 16 billion space programme proposal to boost EU space leadership; welcomes the progress made on EU satellite services (Galileo, Copernicus, EGNOS); emphasises that, if it is to enjoy decision-making and operational autonomy, the Union must have adequate satellite resources in the fields of space imagery, intelligence-gathering, communications and space surveillance; considers that space-based services should be fully operationalised in order to provide high-resolution satellite imaging in support of CSDP missions and operations; stresses the need to finance, through the EDF, industrial projects with a space dimension where the Union can generate real added value;
Amendment 398 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Believes that the Union and its Member States face an unprecedented threat in the form of cyber attacks as well as cyber crime and terrorism; believes that the nature of cyber attacks makes them a threat that requires a Union-level response; supports NATO's decision to include cyber attacks under Art. 5; encourages the Member States to mimic this by provideing mutual assistance in the event of a cyber attack against any one of them as 22 Member States are likewise committed for their fellow NATO Allies;
Amendment 410 #
51a. Recognizes the growing importance of cyber and automated intelligence capabilities, stresses that these provide threats to all the Member States and EU institutions, urges all EU institutions and Member States to continue to improve upon their cyber and automated technologies, further encourages cooperation on these technological advances;
Amendment 413 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52
Paragraph 52
52. Recognises the increasingly prominent role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in European defence; notes, in particular, the many military applications stemming from AI for managing and simulating operational environments, assisting the decision- making process, detecting threats and processing intelligence; stresses that the development of reliable AI in the field of defence is essential for ensuring European strategic autonomy in capability and operational areasoperational objectives are accomplished; calls on the Union to keep up its investment in this area and in particular in disruptive technologies through existing instruments (European Defence Fund, European Innovation Council, future Horizon Europe, Digital Europe programme); encourages transatlantic cooperation in this space to ensure partnering on development and application are used to maximize added value to joint operations and commitments;
Amendment 421 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 52 a (new)
Paragraph 52 a (new)
52a. Underlines the importance of achieving quantum computing capabilities and stresses the need to enhance EU-US cooperation in this area to ensure that quantum computing is first realized among partners sharing warm relations and supporting objectives;
Amendment 424 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 53 a (new)
Paragraph 53 a (new)
53a. Notes the growing importance of space security and satellites, stresses the importance of the European Union Satellite Centre and commissions the agency to analyse and provide a report regarding the safety and/or vulnerabilities of the EU and Member State satellites to space debris, cyber attack and direct missile attack;
Amendment 425 #
54. Stresses that the ambition of European strategic autonomy is based on the ability of Europeans to take action to defend their interests, either independently or within an institutional cooperation framework (NATO, UN)recognising that this must ensure complementarity to NATO and UN missions and operations;
Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Considers that European strategic autonomyactions must be based on sustainable cooperation and strategic partnerships with countries and organisations sharing the Union’s values; welcomes, further, the contributions made by CSDP partners to Union missions and operations;
Amendment 438 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55 a (new)
Paragraph 55 a (new)
55a. Acknowledges and welcomes the continued US military presence in Europe and welcomes the $1.75 billion increase in the budget for the European Deterrence Initiative, rising to $6.531 billion for 2019;
Amendment 440 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 56
Paragraph 56
56. Considers it essential to maintain strong, close and special defence and security cooperation between the Union and the United Kingdom after Brexit; stresses that working in cooperation with the United Kingdom will enable the Union to maximise its capabilities and operational capacitiesthe UK is Europe's most capable and committed military power; considers that defence cooperation which systematically excludes the United Kingdom should be ruled out; proposes the conclusion of a defence and security treatyarrangement with the United Kingdom which enables that country to participate, as far as possible, in Union instrument in Union missions on a case-by-case basis, guaranteeing command of its own forces in any CSDP operation and ensuring an ambitious relationship with the EDA beyond that of other third countries;
Amendment 462 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60
Paragraph 60
60. Supports, in parallel with institutional cooperation and partnerships, the combining of different forms of flexible, multifaceted, open and, at the same time, operational, ambitious and demanding cooperation, both within and outside EU, NATO and UN structures, which could facilitate joint commitments in operations, thereby strengthening the Union’s operational strategic autonomyobjectives; stresses, in this connection, that examples of cooperation such as the European Intervention Initiative, the Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO), Visegrad 4 Group and the increasing integration of the German and Dutch armed forces refelect this drive for closer military cooperation between Member States;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 a (new)
Paragraph 60 a (new)
60a. Recognizes that political and economic stability along with military capabilities and cooperation in the Sub- Saharan Africa is key to mitigating the growth of jihadist activity, migrant crises and combatting the spread and influence of extremism;
Amendment 467 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 b (new)
Paragraph 60 b (new)
60b. Recognizes and supports the EU Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) to Libya, that has been assisting with the transition to democracy and works to train, advise, and develop Libyan border security in land, air and sea;
Amendment 468 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 c (new)
Paragraph 60 c (new)
60c. Further calls upon the EU to keep its commitments in the Fourth EU- African Summit to support economic and political stability and to further support the capabilities of the African Standby Force;
Amendment 469 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 d (new)
Paragraph 60 d (new)
60d. Recommends that Member States adopt weapon systems and munitions in accordance with NATO standards in order to maintain interoperability among allies;
Amendment 470 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 e (new)
Paragraph 60 e (new)
60e. Encourages the Member States to continue cooperation with the AU and continue to fulfil commitments already made;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 f (new)
Paragraph 60 f (new)
60f. Encourages the Member States to continue to work with ASEAN countries in all aspects already agreed upon, further stresses the need to cooperate on economic manners and combatting terrorism;
Amendment 472 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 60 g (new)
Paragraph 60 g (new)