30 Amendments of Michael GAHLER related to 2022/2050(INI)
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. 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 unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas thisRussia is attempting to dismantle Ukraine by annexing the territories of Luhansk, Donetsk, Cherson and Zaporizhzhia; whereas Russia continues on its path of further escalation by its declaration of a partial mobilization and by threatening the world with the use of nuclear weapons; whereas this urgently requires the EU to enhance the effectiveness of its security and defence policy and live up to its long declared ambitions in order to being able to defend its citizens, interests and values; whereas the Strategic Compass aims ato equipping the EU with the necessary tools to make it an effective and capable security provider and an assertive global actor; whereas there is a new urgency to boosting EU security and defence capabilities, including building on the unprecedented support for Ukraine and including the use of the EPF; ; whereas the EU provides unprecedented support, most notably through the European Peace Facility (EPF), to Ukraine in its defence of European values against Russian aggression; whereas almost EUR 3,5 billion of the EPF budget of EUR 5 billion until 2027 has been spent of which EUR 2,5 billion have been allocated to support Ukraine;
Amendment 55 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas the People's Republic of China increased its defence spending over the last decade by about 600% and makes use of its military power to intimidate and threaten its neighbours, most notably Taiwan as recently illustrated by the military manoeuvres in the context of the visit of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to Taiwan in August; whereas the People's Republic of China is not taking a clear stance against Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine which violates the core principle of international law;
Amendment 58 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas the EU’s ambition to become a capable security actor dates back over 20 years while results with regard to capabilities, interoperability and cost-effective cooperation remain rather limited despite the establishment of various structures and processes such as the European Defence Agency, the Capability Development Plan, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the Military Planning and Conduct Capability(MPCC) and the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD); whereas since 2017 61 PESCO projects have been launched without any of them having achieved tangible results;
Amendment 67 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas industrial fragmentation along national lines and inefficiency in developing and procuring European military capability costs between EUR 25 and EUR 100 billion each year and limits interoperability; whereas Member States only procured some 11 % of their total equipment collaboratively in 2020; whereas the Member States have agreed on more and better defence spending;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Highlights the dramatic deterioration in European security accelerated by Russia’s unjustified and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine; stresses that this situation demandrequires that the EU to step up its defence capacities and show greater willingness to act in order to deliver the security expected by thejoint efforts to achieve the necessary defence capacities and mobilise the political will to act in order to finally establish a capable European Defence Union which can guarantee the security of EU’s citizens; underlines the unprecedented and united EU response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, including the provision of military equipment through the EPF; remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s defence of its territorial integrity and, sovereignty; calls on the EU to sustain and European values; calls on the Council, the Commission and the EU Member States to sustain and expand its efforts and provide Ukraine with all necessary financial, humanitarian aid and military aid; equipment, especially heavy weaponry, most notably battle tanks as called for by EP’s President Roberta Metsola on 28 September in Berlin; welcomes the intention of the Council to set up a military assistance mission for Ukraine and calls for a swift conclusion of the process;
Amendment 134 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Welcomes new EU initiatives to enhance European defence, notably the Versailles Declaration, the Strategic Compass and Joint Communication on defence investment gaps; welcomes the Commission’s proposal for a regulation to incentivise joint procurement (EDIRPA) while stressing the need for the allocation of budgetary resources that genuinely meet the ambitious goals set; welcomes the upcoming review of the European defence investment programme regulation, the budget of which should be significantly increased as well; recalls that the Member States have set themselves the objective of investing 35% of their defence investment together; recalls that in 2020 the defence investment expenditure of the Member States neared EUR 45 billion; highlights that joint procurement is essential to ensure the interoperability between the armed forces of the Member States; calls, therefore, for an increased ambition for defence investment expenditure and joint procurement of the Member States; considers that the envisaged European Defence Investment Programme should aim at a total joint investment of at least EUR 15 billion per year, of which a significant proportion should be borne by the Union budget;
Amendment 155 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the new ambition in the Strategic Compass to enhance the CSDP to buildstrengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and to enhance the CSDP by increasing the EU’s resilience and makeby making it more capable and responsive, so ithe EU can act rapidly to defend our interests and values and protect the EU and its citizens; considers the Strategic Compass as a major stepimpetus that could generate the necessary momentum towards a genuine European Defence Union enabling the EU to act as a capable security actor and credible partner; calls for the timely and sound implementation of the approximately 80 concrete actions and for them to be updated regularly along with the EU Threat Analysis which should also be developed towards a threat assessment; calls for the sustained political will of all Member States and EU institutions in this process as well as the allocation of adequate funds;
Amendment 163 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. highlights the importance of PESCO for improving the EU’s defence capabilities; notes with regret that tangible results within the 60 ongoing projects are still missing; points out that participating Member States agreed to 20 binding commitments in order to meet the EU’s ambition in defence; considers it necessary to conduct a thorough review of the PESCO projects with regard to results and prospects thereof that should also include the possibility of closing of projects that lack sufficient progress; proposes to establish a priority scheme within PESCO in which the EUFOR Crisis Response Operation Core (EUFOR CROC) that aims at the creation of a coherent full spectrum force package should provide the anchor from which other projects should be prioritised along the most urgent needs to fulfil the ambition of EUFOR CROC;
Amendment 171 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses the need to substantially strengthen the society-wide focus on resilience and the response to hybrid warfare; welcomes the decision to develop an EU Hybrid Toolbox for a coordinated response to hybrid threats; encourages further development of the EU’s cyber- defence policy and capabilities; underlines the need for close cooperation between the EU and NATO in that area;
Amendment 193 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls on Member States to assess the reform of the decision-making process with a view to realising untapped potential within the Treaties, in particular by activating Article 31 TEU extending qualified majority voting (QMV) to areas relating to the CSDP and pursuing full use of the ‘passerelle clauses’ and scope of articles that enhance EU solidarity and mutual assistance in the event of crises; proposes changes to the Treaties in the CSDP, to be discussed and decided upon within a convention following up on the Conference on the Future of Europe, primarily focusing onwhich should address (1) switching from unanimity to QMV for Council decisions with military implications with an exception for the mutual defence clause in Article 42 (7) and on defence matters for situations where passerelle clauses do not apply, requiring 72% of Councilmembers representing at least 65% of population, (2) introduction of provisions in Articles 42 and 46 TEU enabling the joint procurement of defence equipment and other security-related spending from the budget of the Union as well as the establishment of joint and permanently stationed military units including command structures and (3) revision of Article 346 TFEU in order to limit possibilities for EUMS to deviate from the provisions of the procurement directive (2009/81/EC) as well as to introduce the requirement of justification for such deviations to be assessed by the Commission and communicated to the European Parliament;
Amendment 210 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 2
Subheading 2
Strengthening capabilities by moreincreased, joint and smarter spending
Amendment 213 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Welcomes the EU’s ambition to strengthen its military and civilian capabilities; stresses the need to make full use of EU capability-development initiatives and budgets, notably the EDIRPA, EDF, PESCO, the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) and Military Mobility, in order to fillclose critical capability gaps and ensure swift deployability of armed forces throughout Europe, reduce fragmentation in the defence-procurement sector, achieve full interoperability of our forces and strengthen a resilient, competitive and innovative European defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB); calls for ensuring maximum consistency between these initiatives;
Amendment 224 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8 a. Underlines the need to complement the capability development initiatives with joint procurement mechanisms and therefore calls for a swift implementation of the EDIRPA regulation, and the adoption of the European Defence Investment Programme (EDIP) before the end of 2023, including increasing the funding available under the defence heading 13 of the MFF for those purposes; stresses that joint procurement of defence products developed and manufactured in Europe is an essential tool for ensuring interoperability which in turn provides the basis for the establishment of a capable European Defence Union; notes with regret on that backdrop that the Polish government decided to procure defence products, including over 1000 battle tanks, from South Korea;
Amendment 231 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Considers it importantvital to fill the identified defence investment gaps such as replenishing stockpiles, replacing Soviet- era systems, reinforcing air and missile defence systems, expanding existing main battle tank capabilities and armoured vehicles, strengthening naval forces and improving satellite-based secure connectivity; strongly calls on Member States to commit to a significant increase in funding for EU procurement mechanismsthe envisaged EU procurement mechanisms by providing adequate funding and to take swift and thorough action in this crucial field;
Amendment 248 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Underlines the need for much moreWelcomes the conclusion of the first call for applications within the EDF in which 61 projects have been selected to strengthen and further develop European defence capabilities, most notably with regard to research project for a European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor (EU HYDEF); underlines the need for increased financial support for EU research and development efforts to ensure that the defence industrial and technological base is able to meet increasing demands and ambitions; EDTIB is able to meet increasing demands and ambitions; points out that in addition to capability development the EDF shall also contribute to a consolidation of the EDTIB and therefore further fragmentation needs to be avoided while mobilising the innovative potential for research and development in defence;
Amendment 267 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Calls for moreincreased and smarter spendingdefence investments in order to foster industrial consolidation, cost savings and increased interoperability; calls for synergies with other EU financial instruments to be leveraged and access to private funding for the defence industry to be ensured and facilitated;
Amendment 278 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the need to significantly raise the ceiling of the EPF andt least to the originally envisaged EUR 10 billion as well as to create a separate EPF envelope for Ukraine which guarantees adequate support for the country without systematically neglecting other priority regions, includingespecially Africa; calls for significantly increased military support in all its aspects, including training and information sharing with other particularly vulnerable countries such as the Republic of Moldova, Georgia and Western Balkan countries; calls for all EPF support for the provision of equipment to be carried out in coordination with NATO to increase efficiency and avoid unnecessary duplication;
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Expresses deep concern about developments in the Sahel region and the recent coups d’état in the region; highlights the strategic importance of that region to the EU; condemns the increasing presence of the Kremlin- backed Wagner Group in the Sahel; firmly believes that the latter’s involvement in West Africa runs counter to the objective of bringing peace, security and stability to the regionAfrican continent and undermines EU efforts in that regard; acknowledges that the various international missions have not yet achieved their primary goal of lasting peace in the Sahel region and that a reflection process on the mandates and roles of international missions and policies is therefore needed; expresses similar concern over the increased presence and activity of Islamist terrorist groups, in particular Al-Qaeda, Daesh and Al- Shabaab in the Middle East and Africa;
Amendment 319 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Considers it important that EU intervenCSDP missions and operations are based on a clear understanding of the types of crisis and conflict, including regional and country specific dynamics, the EU seeks to respond to, especially where others are not willing or able to intervene or in non- permissive environments in the future;
Amendment 342 #
16 a. Welcomes the ambition laid out in the Strategic Compass to develop the MPCC by 2025 to such an extent that the EU should be able to plan and conduct all non-executive military missions, two small-scale executive operations or one medium-scale executive operation, as well as live exercises; points out that the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine renders progress in that regard more urgent; notes, however, that progress in that regard does not meet that ambition due to insufficient staffing, lack of command and communication capabilities as well as inadequate infrastructure; calls therefore on the EU Member States, the Council and the Commission to swiftly provide the necessary personnel, allocate sufficient funds as well to establish the necessary infrastructure, including access to EU capabilities, to enable the MPCC to fulfil its tasks;
Amendment 350 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls for faster operationalisation of the Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) based on the increased readiness of Member States’ military forces; considers the RDC as a key element for achieving the EU’s level of ambition which should form a nucleus for a joint EU military corps by gradually assigning additional troops and force elements; reiterates that the RDC needs to provide added value in comparison to the EU Battlegroups and should therefore be set up as a standing force which is permanently stationed and trains together; reiterates its call on the Council and the Commission to thoroughly assess this option, especially by taking into account funding possibilities under Article 41 TEU or by amending the financial regulation in order to include the RDC as an EU institution following the example of the European External Action Service; calls on Member States to commit to substantially narrowing critical gaps in strategic enablers by 2025, in particular linked to the RDC, such as strategic airlift, space communication assets, medical assets, cyber-defence capabilities and intelligence and reconnaissance;
Amendment 395 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Highlights the importance of the EU’s close relationship to the United States which is based on the shared values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law; values the United States’ and the current administration’s commitment and engagement to the territorial defence of Europe, especially in light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine that threatens the whole continent; takes note that the United States are also challenged in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s increasing military posture; stresses that EU Member States need to step up their efforts to improve European defence capabilities in order to pave the way for a burden shifting in the long run with the EU taking more responsibility for its defence and allowing the United States to allocate the necessary resources to the Indo-Pacific;
Amendment 401 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18 b. Expresses grave concern over China’s continued military belligerence, pressure, assault exercises, airspace violations and other grey-zone military actions including cyber and disinformation campaigns against Taiwan; urges China to stop all these actions, restore the full respect of the Taiwan Strait’s median line; reiterates any change to cross-strait relations must be neither unilateral nor against the will of the Taiwanese people; stresses that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait has a direct impact on European security and prosperity;
Amendment 409 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Underlines the fundamental shared democratic values at the heart of the EU and NATO partnership; calls for the deepening of EU- NATO relations, such as through a third Joint EU-NATO Declaration; underlines the need to strongly upgrade the strategic partnership with NATO to base it on the strengthening of political unity and solidarity and enhanced political dialogue on all aspects of common challenges and strategically relevant issues; encourages coordinated responses in conflict prevention and crisis management mechanisms to counter emerging common threats; points out that EU capability development also strengthens the European pillar within NATO and contributes accordingly to transatlantic security;
Amendment 418 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers synergies and coherence with the implementation of NATO’s Strategic Concept and the EU’s Strategic Compass essential, particularly in the areas of countering Russian's war of aggression against Ukraine, cyber defence, hybrid warfare and support to strategic partners;
Amendment 433 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Welcomes the participation of the US, Canada and Norway in the PESCO project on military mobility as importantwhich is essential for the defence of Europe and contributes to the to increase coherence between EU and NATO capability development efforts; welcomes the EU- NATO Structured Dialogue on Military Mobility;
Amendment 448 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Urges the need 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; points out that the parallel projects of developing a future combat air system by the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden on the one hand and the similar project by Germany, France and Spain is an inefficient use of resources and therefore recommends that both projects should be merged;
Amendment 461 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Underlines that the EU’s security is closely interlinked with the security of our immediate neighbours; calls for deepening military-security cooperation with some EaP countries including by strengthening the security dimension of the EaP and for enhancing security and defence policy dialogues, particularly with Ukraine, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova;
Amendment 486 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 – introductory part
Paragraph 27 – introductory part
27. Stresses the need to involve Parliament more actively in CSDP decision-making in order to ensure adequate parliamentary scrutiny, especially with regard to the increasing EU activities in that field, in particular with regard to the implementation of the Strategic Compass and the EPF; encourages proposals for further action by Parliament, and in particular its Subcommittee on Security and Defence, to improve its impact on the CSDP, such as by:
Amendment 488 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 – indent -1 (new)
Paragraph 27 – indent -1 (new)
-1 including the Subcommittee on Security and Defence as co-deciding committee according to rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament in all legislative files with substantial and relevant implications for security and defence;