Member states wary of defence role for Commission

Researchers warn of a potential clash between member states and the European Commission, which is preparing to fund calls on defence research.

The Commission is working with the European Defence Agency on increasing defence research; with the long-term plan of having a strong defence component in the next funding programme after Horizon 2020. However, member states have been reluctant to let the Commission or the European Parliament have any role in defence, which under the EU treaties is controlled by individual countries.

“Some governments remain highly squeamish about allowing the Commission to trespass on areas of high politics like defence,” says Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at Kings College, London. Collaboration plans with the EDA were only formalised for the first time after the European Defence Summit in December 2013. Even then, member states such as Germany and the UK opposed the Commission’s proposals for it to be allowed to procure, and potentially own, defence-related equipment.