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European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)
Europeans have sought since the European Defense
Community proposal failed in the 1950s to develop a vehicle
to give expression to a European concept of common defense
independent from but closely coordinated with NATO. Americans
have reacted with ambivalence, welcoming the notion that Europeans
could do more in their own defense but worrying lest that
effort undermine transatlantic ties and NATO, and all-important
link to Europe. The Europeans in the European Union Treaty
concluded in Maastricht have reaffirmed their goal of a "European
Security and Defense Identity" (ESDI) [part of but apart from
NATO], and at its Summit in April 1999 NATO and the US endorsed
that goal. ESDI would give strength to another European aspiration:
the search for a Common Foreign and Security Policy.
It remains to be seen how these goals will be
achieved, in what form, and with what impact on transatlantic
relations. BASIC follows both the debates and the implementation
of Europe's search for identity and unity in political and
military terms.
BASIC Publications
European
Common Foreign and Security Policy and NATO: Can they Co-exist?,
BASIC Notes 25 June 2003
EU
Defence: Drafts of Helsinki Decisions Revealed 6 December
1999
European
Security - Sharks and Minnows Off Helsinki from the
Berlin Information-center for Transatlantic Security (BITS),
2 December 1999
European Defense: Not More Tanks, More Cops
23 November 1999
ESDI:
Right Debate, Wrong Conclusions 4 August 1999
EU Takes Step Towards
Common Security and Defence Policy
3 June 1999
Additional Information
European Council Presidency Report on ESDP, Nice,
December 2000
Strengthening European Security
and Defence Capabilities,
NATO Fact sheet, December 2000
US Secretary of
Defense, William Cohen's Press Conference at NATO Headquarters
on NATO and EU Relationship,
Brussels, 6 December 2000
Statement to the House on European Defence Co-operation by
UK
Secretary of State for Defence, Geoffrey Hoon, 22
November 2000
European Union Military Capabilities Commitment Declaration,
20 November 2000
European
Commission Proposes Rapid Reaction Facility, 11 April
2000
"The
EU's evolving Foreign Policy dimension - the CESDP after Helsinki,"
Speech by Chris Patten, External Relations Commissioner,
22 February 2000
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