Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy – Annual Report 2022

The report describes the complex challenge to European security, e.g., disinformation, cyberattacks, attacks on critical infrastructure. Facing these challenges, a common security and defence policy is needed. The Strategic Compass is appreciated by the European Parliament with its vision and provision of tools. However, the report calls for more and more efficient military spending with European initiatives like PESCO proving unable to overcome the fragmentation of military procurement and development with annual costs of 25-100 billion euros. 

The Civilian CSDP Compact is regarded as an important instrument, but the missions experience a decline in total personnel deployed, micro-management from the Council, insufficient training and slow decision-making. In the report, the Parliament also criticises the low percentage of women participating in CSDP missions (24%) and underline the importance of the inclusion of a gender perspective in CSDP with women being disproportionately affected by conflicts. 

Looking to the future, the European Parliament welcomes the goal of European strategic autonomy and the commitment to human security in the Strategic Compass. The achievement of these goals requires a dynamic process, adapting the Strategic Compass based on a common threat analysis and the inclusion of civil society actors. Grave problems with human security are observed in the treatment of migrants in Libya. Here, the parliament demands the closure detention facilities and demands the clarification of the reasoning behind future decisions made by other EU institutions based on so-called “pull-factors” for which there is no scientific evidence. The report recommends the extension of qualified majority voting to CSDP and possibly tasking groups of member states with the implementation of individual tasks under the CSDP. Furthermore, it calls for the operationalisation of Article 42(7) TEU.

Reference: Committee on Foreign Affairs (2023). Implementation of the common security and defence policy – annual report 2022. European Parliament.