One of the main focus of the Hungarian EU Presidency during the second half of 2024 will be boosting EU competitiveness in the economic sector. Nevertheless, defence remains an important area where the EU is lagging behind other global players such as India, China and the United States. What opportunities lie in the new Presidency program in this sector and how can Hungary contribute to a stronger EU?
The goal of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) approved in 2007 by the European Defence Agency is to strengthen international partnerships and make use of non-defense and non-European resources in line with civil-military cooperation. As global threats change the security landscape on a daily basis, the EU realized it needs to be up-to-date when it comes to maintaining the security of its Member States and their citizens. The hybridization of threats and challenges such as terrorism, organized crime and illegal migration require hybrid solutions which means a shift from military to non-military means and expertise when solving complex threats. The Hungarian Presidency laid down three pillars, next to boosting the EDTIB is capability development in EU civilian mission and military operation as well as promoting innovation in the defence sector.
The EU’s Rapid Deployment Capacity which grew out from the Strategic Compass in 2018 will be one action that needs to be operational by 2025 with personnel of 5,000. This would enable the EU to use civilian-military means in situations of evacuation of EU citizens as well as ground preparation for long-term stabilization which can then be taken over by international organizations such as the UN or regional institutions. While member states are reluctant to provide resources to the EU in the field (due to parallelisms) it must not be confused with NATO’s Allied Reaction Force which works in the more traditional transatlantic military domain.
Strengthening the European leg of defense is not only an opportunity for the EU but also a necessity in order to become more self-reliant and capable of defense when it comes to our own interests. While in light of the war in Ukraine and the United States policy towards China, European Strategic Autonomy might seem far away, there is a new opportunity for member states to continue to work on common defense projects and develop new working methods for deeper integration of the Defense Union. Analysis says, that in an ever-increasing confrontational international order strategic autonomy is becoming more important for the EU, while defense dependence is increasingly relying on the United States as Europe’s security umbrella. In the broader sense, strategic autonomy does not only pertain to the defense sector alone, but also trade, technology, industry and research & innovation. While the concept of defense necessitates the concept of security, it ultimately comes down to the individual level, since the most secure system, society and institution is only as strong as its weakest link. Which is why more resources will have to go into providing cross-cutting knowledge to European societies, politicians, decision-makers and experts on defense and security. The upcoming 4th meeting of the European Political Community on 18 July can serve as a good political platform to discuss which way the continent’s security architecture must develop and what are the main threats to European societies in an increasingly fragmented world.
Next to developing working policies during the Hungarian EU Presidency, political and social dialogue is also necessary to make sense of what needs to be done on a local, regional and European level when it comes to defending Europe’s interests such as technological sovereignty and energy security.
The most important tasks of the Presidency is of course coordination of differing viewpoints, while focusing on the overall strategic picture. This is why Hungary’s experience as a regional Central-Eastern European actor with close ties to neighboring countries and the Western Balkans can shift the focus to peacekeeping and conflict resolution. Working together with European partners in such a short time might seem as counterproductive, however being in the process and providing unique experience in the field of defense can take the EU forward in its goals with tangible results. The evaluation of the EU’s success –or setbacks- in this area can only be analyzed in the long-term, nevertheless the Hungarian Presidency has the opportunity to coordinate and strengthen Europe’s capabilities in this area for the betterment of societies.
