Strategic Panorama 2009 - 2010 - IEEE

Aníbal Villalba Fernández
Europe’s political weight is now also reflected in its ability to assert its
principles through multiple instruments. In additional to traditional diplomatic,
trade and development assistance instruments, the Union now has
more and better civilian and also military crisis-management capabilities.
Three criteria: consensus, pragmatism and flexibility. Two principles:
innovation and equality
In the context of the security situation, the Spanish Presidency’s
objectives in the field of the Common Security and Defence Policy will be
underpinned by three criteria: consensus, pragmatism and flexibility.
In accordance with the guidelines for the Spanish Presidency of the
Union in 2010, which were adopted by the Council of Ministers on 23
January 2009, these actions will be guided by two principles, also in the
field of Security and Defence, innovation and equality.
First of all, innovation is essential to the effective development of the
Common Security and Defence Policy. Improving the competitiveness of
the European defence industry depends on ability to innovate. And in this
connection it will also be a key to evolving towards dual-use technologies
(civilian-military) that are also multidisciplinary, in the process of establishing
a strong European defence industry.
Although substantial headway has been made in industrial military
research, it is considered necessary to improve its connection with the
civilian sector—in particular, in the development of new key capabilities
through joint projects, in addition to promoting dynamic European projects
centred on research and technology. Innovation should likewise be the key
to achieving more efficient systems in logistics, procurement and design.
It is also considered necessary to keep up the pace of innovation in the
field of operations, in doctrine, and in the manner of acting in increasingly
complex scenarios.
As for the second priority, equality, Spain wishes for our current levels
of security and defence to be extended to all Member States. The concept
of security should embrace all the Union countries equally, in order that all
European citizens feel they enjoy the same protection.
In order to meet the expectations of our citizens and guarantee security,
Europe must continue to equip itself with the necessary security and
defence capabilities and assets. Only in this way will it have leadership and
decision-making capabilities, exporting security to other scenarios.
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