Members of Foreign Affairs Committee have voted on 24 November 2016 the report on the implementation of the Common Foreign and Security Policy drafted by the Chair, Mr Elmar Brok. The report was adopted with an overwhelming majority (EPP, S&D, ALDE, Greens) and after great cooperation between most political groups. At times when Europe is ringed by an arc of instability and is itself victim of terrorist acts, Members called for more unity and a robust foreign and security policy.
For Europe to take full responsibility of its own security Members recalled that all instruments provided by the Treaty of Lisbon, in particular the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), should be implemented. Through PESCO some Member States willing to do so can cooperate closely in the field of defence and be joined later by others, if and when they so wish. The EU external action would also greatly improve through better consistency between its military and civilian actions abroad - for instance with the creation of a permanent civilian and military headquarter to plan and overlook the EU missions aiming at peace building and strengthening security in third countries. Peace and security in the wider European neighbourhood are indeed key to Europe's own stability.
The main pillars of the EU external action should then be 3 Ds: Diplomacy, Development and Defence.
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© European Union, 2016 - EP