Finland Times

A Finnish minister and a parliamentary panel chief have viewed inadequate the common European defence policy to ensure security of EU member states, but a researcher says otherwise.

Defense Minister Carl Haglund and Chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee Jussi Niinistö said that security guarantee means that the allies should help member states, even when the country would come under a military attack.

But the issue is not clear in the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy, well-known as Lisbon Treaty. Teija Tiilikainen, a researcher on strategic issues, said mechanisms are there to address partially the defence matter in the policy.

“Under the policy there is no responsibility of the allies to defend a member state, if it is attacked by other,” said the defense minister.

He added that a solidarity clause is there in the policy but it does not ensure military security guarantee. The EU CSDP has a positive impact on security but there is no commitment to the member states for sending troops, in case of attacks, noted the minister.

“That is why we have to take care of our own defense, “said Haglund.

The parliamentary defense committee chairman, Jussi Niinistö also expressed similar views to the defense minister that the EU CSDP did not give security guarantee to the member states, in case of possible external attacks.

Researcher Tiilikainen, however, said that the article 42 of the treaty kept the provision for military support to member states.

“The EU CSDP has collective policy to defend the member states, which is almost similar to the NATO,” said the researcher., But defense plan or management system in case of external attacks on member states is still absent.

The Treaty on the European Union CSDP can lead to a common defence if the Council of Europe so decides and if the Member States, on the Council's recommendation, accept the decision in accordance with their constitutional requirements. At present, a common defence is not a likely option.

The so-called Capability Development Mechanism in the framework of the CSDP refers to improving the EU's civilian and military crisis management capacity in view of future operations. An ambitious set of Headline Goals have been set for both the military and civilian capabilities.