The heads of state and government meeting in Cyprus have made reference to Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, which establishes a mutual defence clause.
This provision has only been invoked once, and that was by France following the terrorist attacks of 2015. It is binding because it stipulates that “if a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power” whereas Article 5 of the NATO Treaty refers only to “providing such assistance as they deem necessary”.
The debate is therefore open regarding the scope of this commitment and the terms of its potential application. Will they be sufficient to guarantee effective solidarity?
Several considerations argue in favour of an alternative approach involving a new treaty.
Indeed, the US President continues to question NATO, and Europeans can no longer rely 100% on America to guarantee their security.
Whilst some EU nations feel bound by this obligation to defend the continent, others outside the Union, such as the United Kingdom or Norway, also declare themselves concerned.
And what of Ukraine, which everyone recognises as the shield defending Europe against Russian aggression?
Its resistance to aggression has been astonishing, and its army stands out for its adaptability and innovative capabilities. In response to the Ukrainian president’s pleas for a firm commitment to accept his country into the Union, a defence treaty would constitute a decisive first step towards its rapprochement with Europe.
European nations could commit to providing long-term support for Ukraine without actually entering the battle, something they have already done individually by signing bilateral defence agreements with it. This would likely spell the end of the claims Russia makes over Ukraine.
A carefully crafted European defence treaty would serve to formalise and strengthen the signatory states commitment, thereby bolstering the continent’s collective defence. It would have the primary virtue of being a robust declaration of solidarity, but also a commitment more solid than a mere provision in a treaty that not everyone seems willing to apply.
I already proposed this approach in 2016 to avoid certain effects of Brexit and keep the United Kingdom anchored to the continent.
There is a sense that the model of European integration needs to reinvent itself to face new challenges. The foremost of these is to ensure collective defence to guarantee peace. Such a treaty could serve as a model and catalyst for a European revival based on concrete achievements.
To focus on its security and preserve the peace that is now under threat without jeopardising the future of NATO – which no longer depends on us – and to confirm its determination and the solidarity of its members and partners, Europe needs a new defence treaty. Now!
