49 Amendments of Nathalie LOISEAU related to 2023/2119(INI)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 12 a (new)
Citation 12 a (new)
– having regard to its resolution of 9 March 2022 on foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation,
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A (new)
Recital -A (new)
-A. whereas the Russian invasion of Ukraine is an attack against the rules- based international order and the European security architecture; whereas Russia’s persistent attempts to destabilize the Union and to undermine the European security architecture demands that the Union substantially enhances the cohesion and effectiveness of its foreign, security and defence policy as well as its strategic sovereignty;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A a (new)
Recital -A a (new)
-Aa. whereas Europe is facing the most complex combination of both military and non-military threats since the end of the Cold War accentuated by Russia’s unprovoked and illegal military aggression against Ukraine; whereas such non-military means include disinformation, cyberattacks, economic pressure, food and energy blackmailing, instrumentalisation of migration, and subversive political influence to seek support for Russia’s illegitimate military operations; whereas this requires the EU to enhance the effectiveness of its security and defence policy to defend its interests and values;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital -A b (new)
Recital -A b (new)
-Ab. whereas there is a new urgency to boosting EU security and defence capabilities, including building on the unprecedented support for Ukraine and including increased funding of the EPF, the EDF and Military mobility;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Aa. whereas, in addition to territories in Ukraine, Russia continues to occupy the Abkhazia region and South Ossetia of Georgia and the Transnistria region in the Republic of Moldova;
Amendment 71 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the Strategic Compass aims to equip the EU with the necessary strategic guidance, realistic and operational tools to move towards a coherent and credible defence policy, and to make it an effective and capable security provider and an assertive global actor, also in view of the new security context and the growing presence of Europe's strategic competitors in operational theatres;
Amendment 74 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas in 2023 the establishment of the European Defence Industry Reinforcement through common Procurement Act (EDIRPA), an EU short-term instrument aimed at incentivising joint procurement to fill our most critical needs has been adopted; whereas the Act in support of Ammunition (ASAP) was swiftly adopted by the Parliament and entered into force in September 2023; whereas the European Parliament expects the European Commission to propose a Regulation establishing a plan dedicated to setting conditions for Member states to jointly procure while benefitting from VAT exemption and EU financial support, provided the 2024 revision the MFF allows the conditions to effectively finance all the European Defence newly created tools as well as this plan;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas CSDP has 13 civilian missions and 9 military operations under way with around 4 000 personnel deployed on three continents; whereas missions and operations persistently suffer from Member States not delivering on their pledges to provide sufficient military or civilian personnel; whereas CSDP missions and operations suffer from slow decision making; whereas EU CSDP missions and operations are often targeted by hybrid threats, including disinformation, putting at risk their effectiveness in stabilising the country in which they are deployed and, instead, reinforcing pre-existing instability whose only beneficiaries are malicious third states actors;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas the People’s Republic of China increasingly attempts to change the international rules-based order and threatens to undermine European security by supporting Russia’s illegal war of aggression in Ukraine and through its escalating hybrid warfare tactics in the Indo-Pacific and South China Sea;
Amendment 100 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM) has already reached the target of 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers trained; whereas, based on current results and trends, EUMAM stands ready to train more Ukrainian military personnel to reach a target of 40,000 soldiers; whereas the mission is also prepared to integrate training in the Air and Maritime domains as appropriate, or to react to any other urgent UA training requests;
Amendment 105 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas in July, Niger suffered a military coup; whereas the junta has taken a decision to prepare a case for the prosecution of legitimate Nigerian President Bazoum for “high treason”; whereas ECOWAS has followed a “two- track” policy – one track of mediation whilst applying sanctions (trade, banking, and individual); whereas the EU has expressed strong support for ECOWAS, a readiness to prepare an autonomous sanctions regime, and a willingness to look at any request that might come from ECOWAS for further support; whereas following the coup, both CSDP missions (EUCAP Sahel Niger and the EU Military Partnership Mission in Niger) have suspended their operational activities and have kept only necessary core staff in the country; whereas the ongoing four assistances measures from the European Peace Facility (74 M€ in total) have been suspended;
Amendment 112 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas Russia’s influence in Africa has developed, in particular due to an increased footprint of the Wagner group on the continent; whereas Wagner has been gaining a strong foothold in countries like Mali and the Central African Republic; whereas the regions in which Wagner is present have been subject to rampant human rights abuses, plundering of resources, whereas all this is done in all impunity; whereas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger the situation is marked by the non-cooperative stance of authorities towards other partners (including EUTM Mali), regional organizations as well as MINUSMA;
Amendment 117 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas Azerbaijan has created an extremely tense situation by tightening the illegal blockade of the Latchin corridor, multiplying the number of military incidents at various points on the border with Armenia and making threatening comments against Armenia; whereas the European Union has launched in 2023 a new EU CSDP civilian mission in Armenia (EU Mission in Armenia - EUMA) on the Armenian side of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, aiming to contribute to stability in the border areas of Armenia, promote confidence-building, enhance human security in conflict- affected areas, and create an environment conducive to EU-supported normalisation efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan that has almost reached its full capacity; whereas members of the mission have been targeted by unidentified attacks;
Amendment 128 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B g (new)
Recital B g (new)
Bg. whereas cultural heritage has a universal dimension as a testimony of history inseparable from peoples’ identity, which the international community has to protect and preserve for future generations;
Amendment 149 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stands united with Ukraine and resolutely condemns Russia’s illegal war of aggression and the actions of countries such as Belarus, Iran and North Korea that enable Russia's war of aggression; deplores the global consequences of Russia’s illegal war of aggression which is hitting countries and vulnerable societies around the world through increased energy prices and food shortages and which also grossly violates international law and the principles of the UN Charter and undermines European and global security and stability;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Confirms the EU will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to end Russia’s war of aggression and restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, enabling it to effectively exercise its sovereignty, protect its civilians, document and investigate war crimes and bring those responsible to justice, and fulfil their wish of the people of Ukraine for EU membership;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Confirms the EU will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes toby providing the necessary military means until Ukraine’s victory, end Russia’s war of aggression and restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, enabling it to effectively exercise its sovereignty, protect its civilians and fulfil their wish for EU membership;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses the importance of the European Peace Facility (EPF) which has supported the Ukrainian armed forces by financing and delivering military equipment and training, while providing coordination for all stakeholders through the Clearing House Mechanism hosted by the EU Military Staff; calls for the financial sustainability and durability of the EPF to be ensured in order to provide Ukraine and other EU partners around the world with the support they request; supports, in this regard, the proposal made by the VP/HR for an Ukraine Assistance Fund within the EPF that will contribute up to EUR 5 billion annually over the next four years in security commitments to Ukraine and encourages the Member States to adopt it without delay;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Is concerned by the fact that one Member State is still blocking the 8th tranche of the EPF dedicated to Ukraine, thus knowingly delaying military support for Ukraine;
Amendment 180 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the setting up of the Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine and its role in enhancing the military effectiveness of Ukraine’s armed forces so they can defend their territorial integrity within Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders and allow the country to effectively exercise its sovereignty and protection of civilians; welcomes EUMAM Ukraine capacity to addresse Ukrainian training needs in a flexible way, expects of it to bring added value by expanding training offers and to be synchronized with other training initiatives already underway; thus, expects EUMAM and other training initiatives to be mutually reinforcing; insists on adapting training modules to lessons learnt in order to adequately correspond to Ukrainian forces needs;
Amendment 216 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. UExhorts the EU and the Member States to swiftly implement the Strategic Compass, to provide the Union with a common strategic defence culture and the tools to be an effective security provider in a hostile environment; therefore calls on Member States to engage in systematic, regular updates of the threat analysis; underlines the commitment of the EU’s heads of state and government, made in the Versailles Declaration, to provide all the necessary support needed by Ukraine and to take greater responsibility for European security by bolstering European defence capabilities; calls on the EU and its Member States to deliver on this commitment by accelerating the full implementation of the Strategic Compass in order to make the European Union a stronger and more capable security provider;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Reiterates its full support forNotes that, while some progress has been made (first coordination conference held, three operational scenarios adopted on the Rapid deployment capacit) much work remains to be done; reiterates the importance of the full implementation of the rapid deployment capacity (RDC) with at least 5 000 troops available for rescue and evacuation tasks, initial entry and stabilisation operations or temporary reinforcement of missions; considers that without a firm political commitment and more resources in the next months of 2023, the ambition to have the RDC operational by 2025 is at risk; calls on the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) to set out the practical modalities for implementing Article 44 TEU, in order to allow a group of willing and able Member States to plan and conduct a mission or operation within the EU framework and, thereby, ensure the swift activation of the RDC;
Amendment 259 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Reiterates its call for the establishment of regular EU Defence Ministers Council meetings and for setting up a fully functional EU military headquarters by merging MPCC and CPCC, providing it with sufficient human and material resources;
Amendment 270 #
12. Calls on the VP/HR and Member States to deliver more robust, flexible and modular CSDP missions and operations, that can adapt to the changing security context and that build on the synergies and complementarities of civilian and military dimensions of CSDP; highlights the importance of civilian CSDP missions to coordinate with other international partners engaged in similar activities in the host country; welcomes the adoption of the new Civilian CSDP Compact and the commitment to increase the effectiveness, flexibility and responsiveness of civilian missions, including through speeding up decision making, strengthening operational planning, improving selection and recruitment of personnel, emphasising greater gender equality and improving responsiveness tools;
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Calls on the VP/HR and Member States to deliver more robust, flexible and modular CSDP missions and operations, that can adapt to the changing security context and that build on the synergies and complementarities of civilian and military dimensions of CSDP; welcomes the adoption of the new Civilian CSDP Compact and the commitment to increase the effectiveness, flexibility and responsiveness of civilian missions, including through speeding up decision making, strengthening operational planning, as well as improving selection and recruitment of personnel, emphasising greater gender equality and improving responsiveness tools;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises the importance of adequate, flexible and sustainable funding for all security and defence programs and initiatives, including the CFSP budget and the EPF; calls for a substantive increase of funding for the CFSDP budget, including a dedicated CFSP budget line establishing a civilian support facility to provide partner countries with equipment and services to enhance their civilian capabilities; calls onurges the Member States to increase the resources allocated to security and defence in the next multiannual financial framework; further calls on Member States to amend the EPF financing process to ensure adequate and sustainable support for partners, allies and CSDP operations;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Deplores again the fact that Member States are still not making full use of the PESCO framework and that, despite political declarations, progress in implementing the initiative remains far below expectations, particularly in terms of meeting commitments; is concerned that a very limited number of PESCO projects have reached the maturity phase and even a smaller number of projects have reached a full operational capacity; calls on the HR/VP and the Member States to draw the necessary consequences by deciding to merge, regroup or even abandon projects that are insufficiently advanced and to redirect efforts towards a small number of priority projects intended to lead to concrete actions as stated in the Strategic Compass, also given the changing security environment;
Amendment 323 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that EDIRPA can only be a first step towards improving the European technological and industrial base’s capacities to supply Member States with the products and quantities needed and should be complemented with further initiatives, including the envisaged long- term European Defence Investment Program (EDIP) for which adequate funding needs to be ensured; calls, in this context, also for a swift revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework to allocate adequate budgets to all European Defence instruments and urges the European Investment Bank to utilize all available tools for facilitating sufficient access to public and private finance and investment for the European defence industry, including by revising its rules;
Amendment 330 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Calls on the Member States to work on a "Buy European Act" in the field of defence; considers that the VAT exemption alone will not be sufficient to make the future Plan for investment in European Defence, decisive in supporting the EDTIB; calls therefore on the European Commission to consider other financial incentive mechanisms;
Amendment 331 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 b (new)
Paragraph 17 b (new)
17b. Calls for strengthening the resilience of our supply chains and industries’ access to private funding as they are necessary for our European Defence Technological and Industrial Base; calls on the European Investment Bank to take stock of the recent major geopolitical changes and to contribute to that effort, including by revising its rules; considers it is equally important to ensure that horizontal EU policies, such as initiatives on sustainable finance, remain consistent with the European Union efforts to facilitate the European defence industry’s access to public and private finance and investment;
Amendment 356 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Highlights that China has established a ‘no-limits friendship’ with Russia, that includes significant transfer of technology and military capabilities, and poses an increasing number of security challenges to the EU, especially in the fields of cyber and FIMI; stresses the need for the EU to strengthen the security and integrity of its critical infrastructures, supply chains and technology base, including through close monitoring of their ownership and control by actors linked to the Chinese government; expresses concern over China’s aggressive military posturing in the South China Sea as well as its continued military pressure, assault exercises, airspace violations and other grey-zone military actions including cyber and disinformation campaigns against Taiwan; calls upon China to cease all of these activities, which endanger the stability of the entire region and, in the broader context, directly affect European security;
Amendment 365 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on China to uphold the rules-based international order, especially the principle of territorial integrity, and to oppose Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine; Condemns China’s aggressive posture in the Strait of Taiwan and the South China Sea, acknowledges that the potential repercussions of destabilisation in the region would directly impact the security of the EU, and thus calls for greater Coordinated Maritime Presences and capacity building with the EU’s partners in the region;
Amendment 376 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Calls for supplementary progress on further improving the EU Hybrid Toolbox, specifically addressing activities involving cyber-attacks and FIMI, and the revision of the implementing guidelines of the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox; welcomes the commitment set out in the new Civilian Compact to provide the necessary capabilities to enable civilian CSDP missions to respond to hybrid attacks, including FIMI and cyber, by 2024; reiterates the needurgent necessity for ensuring the existence of the expertise and capacity for secure information and communications technologies for all CSDP missions and operations to communicate securely in theatre and with all EU institutions;
Amendment 378 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
Paragraph 21 a (new)
21a. Recalls that, to have an effective CSDP, the EU and its Member States must complement it with the tools necessary to ensure that the efforts undertaken to provide stability have long term effect; calls on the EEAS to upgrade its strategy and to take concrete actions dedicated to support CSDP missions and operations fighting against and countering disinformation and propaganda, in countries where CSDP missions and operations are deployed, in particular in the Sahel and CAR, but also in in the Western Balkans and in Eastern Partnership countries;
Amendment 380 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 b (new)
Paragraph 21 b (new)
21b. Expresses deep concern about developments in the Sahel region and the recent coups d’état in the region; takes stocks of the interruption of the CSDP military support mission to Niger; firmly believes that Russia’s and the Wagner PMC company involvement in West Africa runs counter to the objective of bringing peace, security and stability to the region; acknowledges that the various international missions have not yet achieved their primary goal of lasting peace in the region; welcomes the decision to suspend all operational trainings and delivery of military equipment to Mali and Niger; calls on the HRVP to close EUTM Mali and withdraw the troops stationed there, given that EUTM trains FAMA soldiers, some of whom then join forces with the PMC Wagner; calls for a deep assessment and on the mandates and roles of international missions and policies in Africa; believes that a revised strategy of CSDP in Sahel region is therefore needed;
Amendment 382 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 c (new)
Paragraph 21 c (new)
21c. Express its concern about the situation in Cyprus, an EU Member State, in the context the attack on the UN Peacekeapers and the damage caused to UN vehicles by staff from the Turkish Cypriot side, as the UN peacekeepers were trying to block "unauthorised construction work" near Pyla;
Amendment 383 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 d (new)
Paragraph 21 d (new)
21d. Encourages the EEAS to continue the progress already made by the European Union Military Training Mission in Mozambique (EUTM Mozambique) in the response to the growing terrorist threat in Cabo Delgado and in the training of Mozambican forces on the ground; is still concerned about the risk of this threat spreading in the area; calls for immediate action to speed up the delivery of non-lethal equipment;
Amendment 384 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 e (new)
Paragraph 21 e (new)
21e. Condemns the pre-planned military attack of Azerbaijan against Nagorno-Karabakh; deplores the loss of at least 200 people and 400 wounded during the assault; recalls that this attack follows months of organized starvation and isolation of the Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh through the blockade of the Lachin corridor; underlines that the Russian peacekeepers on site have not taken any action to end the blockade or to stop the Azeri military assault against Nagorno-Karabakh; takes notes of the ceasefire decided on September 20; condemns the military support provided by third states to Azerbaijan; is seriously concerned about the consequences on the civilian population and urges Azerbaijan not to force the exodus of the local population, which would amount to de facto ethnic cleansing; calls for international guarantees to protect the life and the rights of Armenians living in Nagorno-Karabakh; calls on the full and unimpeded humanitarian access to be restored on the territory; stresses that the multiple warnings of the EU Parliament on the situation has not led to any change in the EU policy vis-à-vis Azerbaijan; considers that the attack carried out by Azerbaijan cannot remain without consequences, and calls on the EU to take sanctions against the Azerbaijani authorities responsible for multiple ceasefire violations; calls on the EU to review its partnership agreement with Azerbaijan in the light of recent events and in light of the country's dramatic human rights situation; calls on the EU civilian mission in Armenia to continue to observe the evolution of the security situation on the ground, to make it transparent and to report to the European Parliament;
Amendment 385 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 f (new)
Paragraph 21 f (new)
21f. Welcome Bosnia and Herzegovina stated strong support for the executive mandate of EUFOR Althea; recall the importance of the EUFOR Althea to help maintaining a safe and secure environment in the country; in that sense, welcome the Cooperation and Training Contract for 2023 concluded between the AFBiH and EUFOR; call on BiH to work towards forming multi-ethnic units of the AFBiH; recalls the EU engagement in supporting BiH's defence capacity building, in particular via the €20 million that have been allocated through the EPF so far;
Amendment 393 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Welcomes the Council’s decision of 4 May 2023 to allocate EUR 40 million under the European Peace Facility to support the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova and EUR 30 million to support the Georgian Defense Forces; stresses the need to further increase support to these Eastern Partnership countries and to consider providing similar support to Armenia in order to strengthen its defence and security sector;
Amendment 396 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Paragraph 22 b (new)
Amendment 400 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Welcomes the joint communication on the EU cyber defence policy and calls on Member States to implement the ambitious but realistic set of actions proposed by the Commission, including the proposal for a Cyber Solidarity Act to enhance their ability to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents in the EU; recalls the Member States that the effectiveness of the EU cyber defence policy remains in their political will and concrete commitments;
Amendment 436 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Emphasises that the EU must further develop its own capabilities in all domains to enhance its own strategic autonomy and protect the sovereignty of all its Member States, while enhancing its security cooperation with partners across the globe;
Amendment 454 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Underlines the importance of the partnership dimension of the Strategic Compass in reinforcing cooperation between the EU and its allies and partners around the world in order to counter foreign strategies aimed at undermining the EU and destabilising the rules-based international order; welcomes the long- awaited third Joint Declaration on EU- NATO Cooperation which confirmed that the EU and NATO are essential partners who share common values ancalls on, in this regard, the EEAS to task EU delegations and EU CSDP missions in third countries to fully reinforce third strategic interests, and who work is ability to detect and debunk disinformation coamplementarity to ensure Euro-Atlantic and global security and stabilityaigns orchestrated by foreign state actors; calls ion particular for synergies and coherence between NATO’s Strategic Concept and the EU’s Strategic Compass, particularly in the areas ofEU delegations and EU CSDP missions to play an active role in identifying early developments, in third countering Russian aggression, hybrid and cyber warfare, and providing support to partnerses, that might provide concrete examples, experience and solutions to the EU and its missions abroad;
Amendment 460 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Welcomes the long-awaited third Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation which confirmed that the EU and NATO are essential partners who share common values and strategic interests, and who work in complementarity to ensure that NATO allies benefit from a strong European pillar within NATO; calls in this regard for synergies and coherence between NATO’s Strategic Concept and the EU’s Strategic Compass, particularly in the areas of countering Russian aggression, hybrid and cyber warfare, and providing support to partners;
Amendment 466 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Calls on the EU to continue active cooperation with the US, in the framework of the EU-US strategic dialogue on security and defence, as mutual security and defence initiatives, disarmament and non-proliferation, the impact of disruptive technologies, climate change, hybrid threats, cyber defence, military mobility, crisis management and the relationship with strategic competitors;
Amendment 471 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Underlines the need for solidarity among Member States, especially with those whose geographical position leaves them directly exposed to imminent threats and challenges; fully supports efforts to operationalize article 42-7 TEU in this respect;
Amendment 492 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Reiterates its call for an institutionalised security and defence cooperation with the United Kingdom; encourages the United Kingdom to seriously engage with the EU on pressing strategic challenges; encourages the VP/HR to invite the United Kingdom to informal Council meetings of foreign affairs (and defence) ministers to exchange views on issues of common concern while fully protecting the EU decision making autonomy;
Amendment 514 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29
Paragraph 29
29. Notes that the increase in spending on defence policies and programmes at an EU level and among the Member States are of particular importance for European defence and security, in order to ensure that they contribute in the most effective way to the achievement of EU strategic objectives and to the protection of European security and defence interests and requires full parliamentary scrutiny and accountability; underlines the existing calls for the establishment of a fully-fledged European Parliament Committee on Security and Defence, in recognition of the emerging defence acquis in the framework of the EU with scrutiny, legislation and budgetary responsibilities;