Before the unofficial summit in London, the Alliance argues over the French President’s statement that NATO is “brain dead”. Behind an inappropriate choice of words, however, is an accurate and valuable analysis. Continue reading
On Friday, 13 November 2015, Islamist assassins carried out a series of attacks on popular Parisian leisure destinations: a concert hall, a football stadium during the friendly match between Germany and France and a lively nightlife district near the Place de la République. The wounds heal only slowly. Four years later, the feeling of security has improved, but the threat of terrorism is still present throughout France. Continue reading
Exactly thirty years ago, on August 29, 1991, the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan closed down. Within three decades it had witnessed more than 400 Soviet nuclear tests; almost a quarter of all nuclear tests on the planet. The date marks today the International Day against Nuclear Tests. Continue reading
Last Friday, the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) agreement between the US and Russia expired on schedule, after both sides declared their withdrawal six months ago. The attempt by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and other European leaders to rescue the agreement, which is important for Europe’s security situation, has failed. Continue reading
EU member states could use their human resources more effectively by opening their national armed forces to citizens of other EU member states. In so doing, they would pave the way for more diverse and hence more attractive national armed forces and take a step forward on the way towards a European Army. They would also extend the rights of an increasing number of mobile citizens in the EU. Belgium and Ireland are two examples from which other countries can learn. Continue reading
Bislang ist weder klar, zu welchen Bedingungen das Vereinigte Königreich die Europäische Union verlassen wird, noch, ob es am Ende überhaupt zum Brexit kommt. Während das britische Unterhaus jedoch weiter um eine mehrheitsfähige Strategie ringt, werden in der europäischen Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik längst Tatsachen geschaffen.
In den Armeen Belgiens und Luxemburgs dienen Bürger anderer EU-Mitgliedstaaten schon seit mehr als zehn Jahren. Ihr Beispiel zeigt, dass die Bedenken gegen dieses Konzept unbegründet sind. Die Öffnung der nationalen Streitkräfte ist vielmehr ein wichtiger Schritt auf dem Weg zu einer Europäischen Armee.
