EP urges Europe to step up response to new security challenges

In a resolution voted on May 21, the European Parliament (EP) called on the European Union (EU) and its member states to shoulder more responsibility in security and defense issues..

Illustration photo. (Source: thecommentator.com)

By a vote of 361 in favour, 236 against and 54 abstentions, the EP's annual resolution on the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) asked the EU to respond to the current instability in border areas by forging a stronger strategy to meet new security challenges.

The resolution was drafted by French center-right MP Arnaud Danjean.

The EP also urged Member States to use CSDP instruments more effectively, to strengthen the alignment between internal and external security measures, to contribute and share resources to fight terrorism, combat organized crime, strengthen cyber security and deal with the current mass migration problem into Europe.

The resolution affirms that civilian missions and military operations must become "key and effective instruments of an overall strategy of action", especially in the EU's neighbouring countries. The EP also promotes a unified EU strategy to protect critical infrastructure from cyber attacks.

The resolution stressed that despite the commitments made by EU leaders at the Brussels Summit (Belgium) in December 2013, the EU has not made any significant progress in equipping itself with the operational and technical resources needed to prevent and resolve international crises, thereby affirming the bloc's strategic autonomy.

The EP said EU member states will have to agree on a clear and specific strategy in the field of European defense at the meeting of the European Council on Security and Defense on June 25 and 26, in which EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini is proposed to lead these efforts./.

According to VIETNAM+