Jean Monnet Memorial Lecture 2009
Defence and Diplomacy: What Next For Europe?
Defending Europe needs a coordinated approach – UK and France
have a major responsibility
“If Europe wishes to remain a powerful world player
politically the European Union needs to supplement its
economic strength by pooling more its defence, security and foreign
policy.”
This theme was developed at the Jean Monnet
Memorial lecture at the Institute of Contemporary Studies (iCES)
at Regent’s College in London given by Jean-Dominique
Giulani, Chairman of the Robert Schuman Foundation, the influential
French think tank.
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Political Strength for Europe
The European Union (EU), Giuliani argued, must
respond urgently to global threats to its security - terrorism,
large scale crime, drug trafficking, piracy and nuclear
proliferation.
A coordinated European dialogue is required
if we are to negotiate successfully with the
major world powers - the US, Russia, China, Japan, India and
Brazil.
These countries will become less and less
interested in talking to European nations separately on political
and security matters
Steps to Successful Negotiations
This involves the EU to follow up its
successful economic development of the European internal market
where goods, services, people and capital flow freely with a
concerted and integrated series of policies involving
security.
Defence, immigration, the combating of
international crime and drugs, terrorism , arms trafficking,
nuclear disarmament, energy and a common foreign policy are
among the issues that need to be thought through and agreed
at European level and negotiated at a global level
Specific Responsibility
The UK and France, being the only European
nuclear powers, have a specific responsibility for taking European
Defence issues forward. Europe needs integrated and agreed
policies to contribute effectively to these urgent global
issues
Need for Closer Relations
President Obama made his first three visits
outside the United States to Europe not to individual States but to
London for the G20, Strasbourg for NATO and Prague to meet the 27
European Union Heads of State. He has challenged Europe to get a
European act together and it is now for Europe to respond.
Closer relations between France and the UK are required on these
issues. The Lisbon Treaty provides some important first steps to
give Europe a higher profile in the world
Speakers Contributions
Jean-Dominique’s lecture was followed by
comments from an eminent panel of speakers on content of the
lecture and their personal views on the subject. The speakers
were:
The evening ended with wide ranging
discussions with publics from business, government and academia
that made up the 250 strong audience.
Europe as a strong political competitor
The issue of how Europe can compete
politically on the International stage is coming to the top of
agendas. Jean Monnet Lecture has started a debate which will
continue during the next year and play a significant part in the
lectures and seminars that iCES will host during 2009-2010
Institute of Contemporary European Studies
Jean Monnet Memorial Lecture
22 April 2009
Regent's College
Page last updated 11/10/2009