Defence Omnibus: Council blocks true progress

Today, the final trilogue negotiations on the Defence Omnibus have just been concluded with a disappointing result.

MEP Hannah Neumann, Greens/EFA negotiator for the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE), comments:

“The outcome of today's negotiations on the Defence Omnibus is deeply disappointing. We all agree that Europe must act quickly, yet once again the Council blocks every inch of true progress and keeps postponing the real debates and decisions.

“In Parliament, we understand the scale and urgency of achieving defence readiness. That is why we are accepting this compromise - grudgingly. But we must be honest: this is not the level of ambition we need to make Europe safer or our industry more competitive. Member States need to realise that their national protectionism comes at a cost. It weakens our collective security, delays the capabilities we urgently need, and ultimately makes Europe less safe, not more.

“Heads of states are often calling for European sovereignty and a truly European defence - in rhetoric. Yet, when it comes to providing the European Union with the competences, resources, and information needed to get there, they step back. They demand European solutions while refusing to equip Europe with the tools required to deliver them. And then, they complain at home that the EU is too weak to fix the problem. This is cynical and short-sighted. We don‘t have time for that anymore.”

MEP Reinier van Lanschot (Volt), Greens/EFA negotiator for the Internal Market Committee (IMCO), comments:

"The outcome of the Defence Omnibus shows how drastically the mindset in European capitals and defence ministries has to change.

“The capitals are still held back by conservatism, irrational fears and national self-interest, but the only way we reach real European security is by substantially increasing European collaboration. Buying equipment together and creating a European internal market for defense is broadly supported by Europeans and could save 100 billion per year, but the Defense Omnibus only takes a small step into that direction.

“We are also deeply critical of how the Council arm-twisted the European Parliament into swallowing a poor result by holding other defence files hostage until Parliament gave into the Council's nationalistic line.

“So we are far away from where we need to be. And, more worryingly, miles away from what an overwhelming majority of EU citizens are calling for: a true, integrated European Defence Union."