A Europe that protects? Of course!
Why the motto of the Austrian Council Presidency is indeed justified, but is broader than just the issue of migration. A commentary by Stefan Haböck, International Officer of the Paneuropa Movement Austria.
The uproar among various commentators, with former Federal President Heinz Fischer being the most prominent, was considerable when it was announced that Austria’s EU Council Presidency would be under the motto “A Europe that protects”. There was talk of “isolationism” and “negative images that are to be created”. One can, of course, view this motto narrowly and reduce it to the topic currently dominating all media and political focus: migration and external border protection. However, that would be negligent.
Security – the primary duty of states
The state’s inherent duty, and conservatives, liberals, and leftists are fundamentally in agreement here, is to guarantee internal and external security. The implementation will certainly vary depending on ideological standpoint. However, hardly anyone would dispute that the state does indeed have a protective function. This can be reduced to policing internally and defence externally, or expanded to include the protection of the rule of law, competition, and even the social safety net. If the state did not protect, there would be no need for it.
The European Union, too, naturally has protective duties, which have either been transferred to it by the states or are jointly regulated at the European level. This is more than sensible and efficient when it comes to common foreign and security policy. And this is precisely the point: Europe must, of course, protect. And it must do so to a much greater extent than is currently reflected in the debate on security policy and geostrategy – which, in this country, is already very underdeveloped.
A glance at the map shows – there are plenty of hotbeds of crisis
One only needs to spread out a map of Europe and go through it clockwise. In the north, Great Britain will soon leave the European Union. This not only leads to the loss of a country that contributed significantly to military defence capabilities, but also creates a new border on the Irish island. Not so long ago, this was the scene of a bloody civil war.
The Nordic countries form the external border to the Arctic, a geostrategically highly significant point. In the northeast, one finds not only the external border with Russia, but also the Kaliningrad enclave – where the nuclear-capable “Iskander” missile systems are stationed. Their range extends beyond Berlin.
In Eastern Europe, in Ukraine, a war is taking place that has so far cost 11,000 lives and displaced over two million people. The country lies just behind Slovakia, closer to Vienna than Vorarlberg. The Sea of Azov, an important waterway for commercial shipping for Russia and Ukraine, is currently being progressively sealed off and guarded by naval units.
To the southeast lies the Republic of Moldova. Geographically situated between Romania and Ukraine, and thus far from Russia, it is torn between old communist cadres and a pro-European civil society in the cities. Russian troops are stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria, located between Ukraine and Moldova.
The Balkans are Europe’s testing ground for non-European powers whose primary goal is destabilisation. All six remaining Balkan states have been promised EU accession. This is urgently necessary. Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, and Turkey are all active in these unstable regions.
The Mediterranean separates Europe from partly more stable countries like Morocco, unstable (de facto failed states) like Libya, and strict autocracies like Egypt.
China – the dragon awakens and is hungry
And that was just a small excerpt of geostrategically and security-politically important regions directly in Europe. China and its aggressive expansion strategy must also be mentioned, which is evident not only in the “New Silk Road” – One Belt One Road Initiative – (the sale of important infrastructure such as the Port of Piraeus to China will continue to occupy Europe), but also in the trade sector, where only a united EU can act strongly enough to end China’s discrimination against foreign companies. The fact that China, via the 16+1 format, has specifically selected some European countries to conclude bilateral agreements with them, is attributable to the strategic foresight of the Chinese leadership. The expansion of the “Social Credit” system to international companies also means hard-nosed geopolitics: whoever recognises Taiwan is not allowed to trade in China.
The USA – wavering between democratic rule of law and quick “deals”
And then there are the USA and its President Donald Trump. He is certainly guaranteed full attention – which in turn leads to the complete neglect of many of the points listed above. His openly expressed rejection of all international agreements and institutions is a warning signal to Europe. His stubbornness and his thinking in “deals” will still harm the world in the form of trade wars. These have never been won.
Europe must be able to take responsibility for its own security
On one point, however, the US President is right: the fact that the USA had to guarantee Europe’s security and military defence for decades cannot be maintained indefinitely. It hinders Europe’s development in this area. For too long, EU states, including Austria, have relied on NATO and on strong partners such as the USA, Great Britain, or France. In truth, almost all NATO members do not meet the – self-imposed! – two per cent target. Immediately, every investment in European armies is branded as “rearmament”. This leads to the German Bundeswehr having only about ten operational combat aircraft. PESCO – the Permanent Structured Cooperation of several EU states within the framework of defence policy – is a first step.
Yes, Europe must protect
How comprehensively Europe should protect is a process of political, democratic will-formation at all levels. What is clear is that, through a strategic security policy, Europe must protect one thing above all: freedom, the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of its citizens.
However, anyone who views a phrase like “A Europe that protects” negatively not only misunderstands the role of states (or indeed the institutions formed by them), but also the fundamental needs of citizens.
It is unfortunately fashionable to dissect individual sentences instead of engaging with their content. But that is exactly what Europe would need: a debate on how Europe should protect. The 2019 European elections could provide an opportunity for this. Let us hope that this will happen. And if it is only because of Donald Trump, then his election was at least good for a new commitment from Europe to geostrategy, common security policy, and free trade.
Images:
1.) EEAS Logo From EU_diplomatic_missions.svg: Ssolbergjderivative work: Ssolbergj (talk) – EU_diplomatic_missions.svgBased on the logo that is shown on http://eeas.europa.eu/index_en.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12194088
2.) EU Flag From EU_diplomatic_missions.svg: Ssolbergjderivative work: Ssolbergj (talk) – EU_diplomatic_missions.svgBased on the logo that is shown on http://eeas.europa.eu/index_en.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12194088
3.) EU_Worldmap From Ssolbergj – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8643668
