Leaders of the European Union will meet in Brussels on December 16 and 17 for the last EU Council summit of the year. They are expected to be talking about mandatory vaccinations, the role of HERA, sanctions on Russia over its alliance with Belarus, climate change and migration.
Emmanuel Macron's plans for an EU army and the already-announced Strategic Compass plan to put more funding into a common defence policy will not be included in the agenda. Italy's Permanent Representative to the EU Pietro Benassi said he was bitterly hit by the bitter blow to the French President. Asked if strategic autonomy will be in the EU's minds in two weeks time, he said: Not in this very moment. We have to do every possible fine tuning to our strategy from here until the European Council of March 2022 to ensure that we can increase and leverage defence investments at EU level. We will examine the possible financial commitments and consequences of that along this path, but it is not up to the next European Council to discuss how we are going to finance something that we are still to define. Last month, EU defence ministers discussed plans for the so-called Strategic Compass, a new draft plan for the bloc's security and defence policy. The ministers discussed a timeline for the launch, including military capabilities to space and cyber, troops' regular exercise and an annual report. The plan will aim to have 5000 troops deployed by 2025 for different types of crises, which will allow us to deploy up to 5000 troops for different types of crises, as well as to the EU Rapid Deployment Capacity. This will add to the already existing battlegroup units of 1500 soldiers that have never been deployed by the bloc. READ MORE: Remainers dealt a blow as Rejoin EU loses deposit in Bexley by-election.
The paper, prepared by the European External Action Service and dated November 9, touched on the US prioritisation of Asia over the EU. It reads: The United States is a global power who has contributed to peace, stability and democracy on our continent in the last century and the EU's staunchest international partner. Its shift towards Asia is unavoidable. There is a rise in bipolarity between the United States and China that is shaping international competition in virtually all areas. Despite the fact that France REFUSE to conduct joint migrant patrols with UK REACTION, it will be a US issue stern warning to EU ANALYISIS Boris overcome the first by-election hurdle as Labour Lib Dem pact fails INSIGHT Despite US President Joe Biden saying that he recognises the importance of a stronger and more capable European defence that contributes positively to global and transatlantic security and is complementary to NATO earlier this month. The US leader made comments after meeting with President Macron, the biggest supporter of the EU's army. The French President and EU Commissioner Josep Borrell has been calling for the bloc to build its own EU army in a bid to rely less on American and other non-EU NATO allies. Germany's defence minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer sank their hopes ahead of a NATO summit in Brussels.