The European Union must act as a facilitator of defence co-operation between its member states, says Jussi Niinistö (PS), the Minister of Defence.
Finland will seek to actively influence the drafting of a common defence strategy for the European Union, states Jussi Niinistö (PS), the Minister of Defence.
“The objective should be to develop co-operation in the defence sector with a particular emphasis on concrete aspects. It should also be considered in more depth what mutual assistance and solidarity mean in practice,” he says in a blog post on Puheenvuoro.
Niinistö also commented on the annual state of the union address of Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, by estimating that it contained few new proposals. Juncker stated yesterday that it is necessary to develop defence co-operation both within the European Union and with Nato, and proposed that a military headquarters be established as the first step towards a common military force.
Europe, he estimated, is currently paying up to one hundred billion euros a year for the lack of defence co-operation.
Niinistö writes that creating synergies and patching up holes in the defence capacity is key for the defence co-operation between the European Union and Nato. “It is great if the EU can finally take concrete action to develop central aspects of itself, such as the defence of Europe,” he acknowledges.
“I am not holding my breath, however,” he adds.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT Photo: Heikki Saukkomaa – Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi
