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EUHR Solana's address to the EP

INTRODUCTION

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. I very much welcome this opportunity to be among you once again to address a number of important issues which concern us all.

I understand that we shall have two debates today : in the first, I should like to talk about the current situation in the Middle East and the wider region and also to bring you up to date regarding EU operation Artemis in Bunia in the Congo; in the second debate I should like to give you a brief preview of the main guidelines for a European Security Strategy which I shall present to Heads of State and Government at the European Council in Thessaloniki. I understand that the Parliament also wishes me to comment on the Union's implementation of the United Nations' programme on illegal trade in small arms.

As always, I look forward to hearing your questions and comments.

Let me begin with the situation in the Middle East

MOYEN-ORIENT

Au Moyen-Orient, et plus largement dans l'ensemble du monde arabo-islamique, nous sommes confrontés à une situation toujours difficile. Notre détermination reste entière.

Nous avons tous vu l'adoption de la feuille de route pour une paix israélo-palestinienne, puis la rencontre d'Aqaba. Nous avons tous vu les violences qui ont suivi. Elles ne doivent pas nous décourager. Je suis fier que le contenu de la feuille de route soit largement un enfant européen. Je suis fier que ce contenu soit devenu un enfant du Quartet. Et je me félicite de l'engagement actuel américain, au plus niveau, en la personne du Président Bush. Sans une action commune avec les États-Unis, nos espoirs de paix seraient limités demain comme ils l'étaient hier. Ensemble, nous pouvons beaucoup plus et c'est cela nos efforts de tous les jours. Je place beaucoup d'espoirs dans la prochaine réunion du Quartet en Jordanie le 22 juin.

Nous devons rester engagés dans l'ensemble de la région. De Rabat à Téhéran en passant par Riyad. C'est une nécessité aujourd'hui.

Nous avons pour nous le processus euro-méditerranéen. En Crête, il y a un mois, nous avons identifié plusieurs priorités - dont celle d'appuyer la coopération parlementaire euro-méditerranéenne. J'ai conclu notre dîner avec les partenaires et les futurs membres de l'Union - une première dans ce format- en disant que la prochaine rencontre à Rome, en fin d'année devait nous permettre de constater des progrès tangibles sur tous les fronts.

Sur la base de la résolution 1483 du Conseil de Sécurité des Nations Unies, nous continuons de voir quelle contribution européenne pourrait mieux permettre de gagner la paix en Irak. La tâche est immense et n'est pas facile.

Vis-à-vis de l'Iran, notre dernier Conseil ministériel a rappelé que si l'on reconnaît que l'Iran est un grand pays avec qui nous sommes prêts à développer les relations, nous avons aussi des sujets de préoccupation sur lesquels nous attendons des réponses. Notre position en matière nucléaire et notre invitation à Téhéran à signer le protocole additionnel de non-prolifération n'est pas un message européen adressé par l'Europe au nom de quelqu'un d'autre. Il y a unité des Européens sur ce point.

OPÉRATION ARTEMIS

Maintenant je voudrais dire quelques mots sur l'opération Artémis.

• L'opération Artémis a été lancée jeudi dernier, le 12. Cette décision est en elle-même un succès pour l'Union européenne ; elle montre que nous avons su réagir très rapidement à la demande qui nous avait été adressée par le SGNU ; que l'Union européenne peut agir efficacement en soutien des Nations Unies. La valeur ajoutée d'une opération de l'UE est de contribuer à mieux mobiliser les efforts ; elle est aussi d'avoir une plus grande force de conviction, non seulement par un déploiement de force, mais aussi par ce que représentent les moyens d'action de l'UE et de l'ensemble des États Membres. Ensemble, nous signifions davantage. Et, quand la volonté politique est là, nous pouvons agir vite. La France a annoncé son intention de servir de Nation Cadre pour l'opération le 28 mai, et l'opération a été lancée 14 jours plus tard.
  
  
• A ce jour, 400 soldats sont déployés à Bunia avec leur équipement et 500 autres sont à Entebbé pour assurer la logistique. Les premiers rapports qui nous parviennent du terrain montrent que la situation est tendue et instable, mais contrôlée. C'est sans conteste une mission difficile comme le montrent les incidents survenus depuis ce week-end.
  
  
• Vous le savez, le mandat est précis, il répond à la demande que m'avais adressée Kofi Annan : nous n'avons pas pour mandat de pacifier l'ensemble de la région. Il s'agit d'un mandat limité dans le temps et dans l'espace. Notre mission de stabiliser la situation humanitaire et de sécurité à Bunia, et de permettre l'arrivée de la Task Force Bangladeshi à Bunia dès le 15 août.
  
  
• J'ai eu des contacts avec les chefs d'États des pays de la région : les présidents Kabila, Kagame et Museweni. Je leur ai indiqué que l'Union européenne attendait de tous les participants qu'ils redoublent d'efforts pour mettre en œuvre le plan de paix dans la région. Ils m'ont répondu qu'ils accueillaient avec satisfaction et qu'ils soutenaient l'engagement de l'Union européenne en réponse à la demande des Nations Unies. J'irai dans la région dans le courant du mois de juillet.
  
  
• Il est important de poursuivre cet effort diplomatique et de mobiliser tous les moyens dont nous disposons pour soutenir le processus politique en cours pour pacifier la région. La stabilisation durable de la situation en Ituri passe par la poursuite du processus de paix en RDC et la mise en place des institutions de la transition.
  
  
• Il est également important de s'assurer que la force pourra être relevée en temps utile par la MONUC renforcée, conformément à la résolution 1484.

Nous explorons les modalités selon lesquelles nous pourrions contribuer à ce renforcement de la MONUC. Il faudra mobiliser non seulement les moyens de l'Union, mais aussi, cela est clair, les moyens d'action nationaux.

• Je voudrais enfin
  
   saluer l'action de la France, qui nous permet à tous de répondre à la demande de Kofi Annan ;
   saluer la contribution significative de plusieurs autres États Membres ou futurs États Membres;
   me réjouir de la participation annoncée de pays d'Afrique, d'Asie, d'Amérique du Sud et de celle du Canada ;
  
  
• Notre mission est une mission à risque ; nous en sommes tous conscients ; nous l'avons préparée et nous la conduirons avec vigilance et détermination.

EUROPEAN SECURITY STRATEGY

Let me now begin the second debate of the day by turning to the question of a European security strategy

• In Rhodos, I received a mandate to present, in time for the European Council meeting of Thessaloniki a document setting out threats and challenges facing the EU and making recommendations for an overall European Security Strategy. I am in the process of finalising this document. I would like to give you a preview of its main findings and conclusions.
  
  
• While drafting it I have taken account of the useful comments and suggestions that member states and prominent European personalities have provided.
  
  
• Let us be clear that what I will present later this week to the European Council is an outline of what a European Security Strategy should be. If member states agree on the main orientations it suggests; it will need to be developed into a comprehensive strategy in the months ahead.
  
  
• Let me turn now briefly to what I see as our main challenges and what I recommend should be an EU strategy to confront them.
  
  
• First I think that there is a general feeling that the time is ripe for such an exercise. On the one hand, thanks to the achievements of European integration, Europe enjoys unprecedented stability and prosperity. On the other hand, the end of the Cold War has not brought an end to conflicts around Europe and in the world and new security threats have emerged. Today's complex problems cannot be tackled by any single country. As a Union of 25 member states, with 450 million people and producing a quarter of the world's GDP, the European Union is a global actor. It should be ready to take responsibilities accordingly. This has important consequences for its instruments of external action
  
  
• The new security environment
  
  Elaborating a security strategy should start with a careful consideration of the new security environment. The globalised world we now live in offers new opportunities for increased freedom and prosperity .It has also made some familiar problems worse and brought about a new range of risks.
  
  Regional conflicts continue to foster instability, on a background of poverty and bad governance.
  
  Environmental degradation and competition for resources could create further turbulence and have long term consequences on our security.

Threats

The key threats we face are more diverse, less visible and less predictable than the threat of large-scale aggression that we faced during the Cold War.

International terrorism is a strategic threat; different from the traditional forms of terror we were familiar with. The agenda of the new terrorists is to use unlimited violence and cause massive casualties. For this reason they seek to acquire and to use Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Proliferation of WMD: we are entering a new and dangerous period. A WMD arms race, combined with the spread of missile technology, especially in the Middle East puts Europe at risk.

Failed states and organised crime: failed states have left an open field for organised crime to take over. Massive flow of drugs and migrants are coming to Europe and affect its security.

These threats are significant by themselves, but it is their combination that constitutes a radical challenge to our security.

• Strategic Objectives
  
  Whether this new world opens brighter prospects for mankind or offers a more terrifying future will depend partly on our actions. I propose three strategic objectives for the European Union:
  
  
• Extending the zone of security around Europe. our task here is to create a ring of well governed countries to the East of the European Union and on the borders of the Mediterranean with whom we can enjoy close and co-operative relations
  
  
• Strengthening the international order. In a world of global challenges, our security and prosperity depends on an effective multilateral system. Strengthening the United Nations, equipping it to fulfil its responsibilities and to act effectively must be a European priority.
  
  
• The principles of the United Nations must be made credible through enforcement. When incentives for countries to improve their behaviour fail, we should be ready to use sanctions. Measures could include the use of force, in accordance with international law, when all other means have been exhausted.
  
  The transatlantic relationship remains one of the core elements of a functioning international system.
  
  Developing existing institutions and supporting new ones (such as the ICC) will help in shaping a rule based international order adapted to new challenges.
  
  Countering the new threats:
  
  
• the EU has been active in tackling terrorism, proliferation and failed states. Strategies to deal with these new threats share common features:
  
  
• they are more distant: with the new threats the first line of defence will often be abroad
  
  
• They are dynamic: left alone they will become more dangerous. Conflict prevention and threat prevention cannot start too early
  
  
• They are more complex: none is purely military and a military response is not enough. The EU is particularly well equipped to respond to multifaceted situations
  
  
• Policy implications for Europe
  
  We have to build on the progress made in developing and using our instruments over the last few years. If we want to make a contribution that matches our potential, we need to be more active, more capable and more coherent.
  
  More active: that means developing a strategic culture that fosters early, rapid and when necessary, robust intervention.
  
  More capable: we need more resources for defence, less duplication of our defence assets and a greater capacity to bring our civilian resources to bear in crisis and post crisis situations. We also need a stronger diplomatic capability, better using the combined retouches of the EU and the member states. Improving our capabilities would allow us to envisage a wider spectrum of missions, better adapted the requirements of new security challenges and to the responsibilities that we are ready to assume.
  
  More coherent: we have to increase synergy between EU instruments and between EU instruments and external activities of individual member states. Coherence among EU instruments requires more unity of command.
  
  
• I am confident that if we implement the agenda I have just outlined, the EU would make a bigger impact on a global scale. If member states agree with the substance of the document that I will submit this week, I would welcome a new mandate to elaborate a full-fledged European Security Strategy by the end of the year. I propose to follow the same approach used so far. I would elaborate this comprehensive document under my responsibility, consulting very broadly and submit the result to member states for agreement.

ILLEGAL TRADE IN SMALL ARMS

1. I understand that the Parliament has asked that I say a few words about the Union's implementation of the United Nations programme against the illegal trade in small arms.

2. Let me say that that the European Union has contributed actively to the implementation of the UN Programme in a variety of ways:

firstly, through the EU's own programme for the prevention of violent conflicts,

secondly, through the July 2002 Council Joint Action on small arms and light weapons,

and thirdly, through the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports.

3. I very much hope that the First Biennial meeting on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action (New York, 7-11 July 2003) will not limit itself to a simple stock-taking exercise of steps taken by States in the implementation of the Programme. I believe it should also make progress towards enhanced international co-operation on issues such as marking/tracing and brokering and export controls.

4. Let me also recall that the EU has four on-going projects implementing its July 2002 Joint Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons. One was just adopted by the Council and concerns destruction of surplus ammunition in Albania. The three other concern respectively Cambodia, the Southeast Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean.

CONCLUSION

I realise I have spoken on the Security Strategy at some length but I think you will agree that this is a subject which merits our careful consideration. I shall be happy to send you copies of the document once it has been presented to Heads of State and Government in Thessaloniki. For now, I very much welcome your questions and comments.

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Recherche Avancée

• Joint Statement by the Quartet - The Road Map (30/4/2003)
• Inaugural ceremony of ICC (11/3/2003)