The foreign and defense ministers of the EU states – with Klaudia Tanner and Alexander Schallenberg (both ÖVP) – are discussing the plans for a new security policy concept for the European Union in Brest (France) today. A draft presented in November 2021 provides, among other things, for the establishment of a rapid deployment force of up to 5,000 soldiers. It is to be decided in the next few months under the French EU Council Presidency.
The foreign ministers are also expected to hold a separate meeting to discuss the negotiations Russia wants on new security agreements for Europe and the role of the EU in them. EU representatives such as Foreign Representative Josep Borrell recently made it clear on several occasions that, from the EU’s point of view, the negotiations cannot be conducted exclusively through NATO and the USA.
Through the security agreement sought by Russia, the NATO states are to undertake, among other things, to refrain from military action in the territory of Ukraine and other states in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and in Central Asia. In addition, a direct waiver of Ukraine’s admission to NATO is demanded.