EU`s Self-defense Still Has Long Way to Go

The leaders of four European nations including President Jacques Chirac of France, Chancellor Gerhard Schroder of Germany, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium and Premier Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg held summit talks in Brussel April 29, so-called “The EU Mini-Defense Summit.” The most eye-catching proposal that the heads of the four European nations, which opposed the American-led war in Iraq, made in the summit is the establishment of European Security and Defense Union (ESDU).

The ESDU is a separate military alliance from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the existing pillar of defending European countries. The establishment of the ESDU can be interpreted that those European countries want to be more independent from the US influence within the NATO when it comes to depending the European Continent.

The leaders of the four European nations proposed the creation of a military center in Belgium in the summer of 2004 for "planning and command" of joint European Union operations outside the NATO theater insisting that the new center would increase efficiency. The proposals will be presented to the 11 other members of the European Union this weekend.

It seems to be natural for the four European nations that are concerned about the US retaliation for their opposition to the American-led Iraqi war to insist Europe`s self-defense. The problem is whether this goal is achievable or not. Other European countries such as Greek, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain criticized that the summit talks is a scheme to divide the Continent and to oppose the NATO. Even those participant seemed to try not to hurt the American ally` feeling by saying, “The NATO is the most important defense strategy for the EU.”

The Four European countries proposal for the EU`s self-defense is noting new because since the EU summit in Belgium 2000, the issue has been emerging as a major future task for the Continent. The self-defense of the European countries means an increase in their defense budgets. No EU member countries are willing to spend more money for the EU`s self-defense. France spends 2.6 percent of its gross domestic product on military expenses, but the three other nations at today`s meeting are among the lowest military spenders in Europe.

On the other hand, the US spent 35 million dollars, 3 percent of its GDP, on military spending bills. The figure is three times as much as the EU 15 member countries` defense spending. Therefore, the EU has a long way to go to achieve its self-defense.

Jei-Gyoon Park phark@donga.com