Eduardo González
The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union yesterday adopted the final draft of the so-called European Strategic Compass, the “white book” of European defense that offers an ambitious action plan to strengthen the security and defense policy of the Union between now and 2030 and that will be presented this week at the European Council for final approval.
“In the geostrategic framework, which is being profoundly altered by the illegal aggression against Ukraine, we have definitively approved, together with the European Defense Ministers, the text of the Strategic Compass, which is going to be endorsed at the European Council on the 24th of this month,” stated the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, at the press conference following the Council, which was held in Brussels. The Strategic Compass, he continued, “is committed to a comprehensive, diplomatic, civilian and military approach to prevent and respond to crisis situations and is a first step towards making Europe’s voice heard loud and clear in the world”, he added.
In this regard, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, declared that “Europe needs a more realistic, strong, efficient and pragmatic Euro-Atlantic security architecture, anchored in a Europe of Defense that advances solidly and increasingly better coordinated with the Atlantic Alliance”.
The meeting, held in an enlarged formation with the attendance of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, was convened by the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, to address the situation in Ukraine and the measures taken in this respect by the countries of the Union and to jointly analyze the content of the latest draft of the Strategic Compass, the document that will guide the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union in the next decade.
Based on a common analysis of risks and threats, and in order for the Union to improve its agility and response capacity, the Compass establishes, among other novelties, the creation of the Rapid Deployment Capability, a military unit to support the rest of the Union’s instruments in case of need. “Threats are increasing and the cost of inaction is evident,” Borrell declared after the meeting. “The Strategic Compass is a guide for action, it sets out an ambitious path for our security and defense policy for the next decade and will help us face up to our security responsibilities, to our citizens and to the rest of the world. If not now, when?” he added.
On the other hand, as Albares explained, the sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine were addressed during the Brussels Council. “To date, the EU measures apply to 877 individuals and 62 entities, and rather than moving forward with a new package of measures, and that has also been Spain’s position – although of course we are willing to support new sanctions if they are effective – the consensus has been around ensuring proper implementation and maintaining contact with our partners outside the EU to ensure their full effectiveness,” he specified.
Likewise, Albares continued, the foreign ministers agreed to “redouble efforts to continue isolating Russia internationally”. In this regard, he said, “a central idea” in the discussions was the request presented by Spain to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, by decision of the Council of Ministers on March 15, “to initiate an investigation into the acts of aggression and possible war crimes and crimes against humanity that are taking place on Ukrainian territory”.
“We cannot lose sight of Moldova”
“Thirdly, we have put the focus on humanitarian aid and financial support to Ukraine and have agreed to continue to increase our contributions,” continued the minister, who recalled that “Spain has already announced an unprecedented humanitarian aid package of 23 million euros for Ukraine and eight million euros to support bordering countries that are currently receiving refugees, as is the case of Moldova and Poland.” “Spain, as well as many of the EU Member States, we have shown our solidarity with those bordering countries and with Ukraine itself to welcome refugees and relieve the pressure on those countries,” he said.
In this regard, the Council counted on the intervention, as the guest, of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Nicu Popescu, whom Albares himself visited last March 16 in Chisinau as part of a two-day tour of this country and Poland to learn about the situation of Ukrainian refugees on the ground. “The situation of fragility in that country is evident and we cannot lose sight of the Moldovans at this time,” the minister warned during the press conference.
