The European Parliament adopted by 407 votes to 92, with 142, abstentions a resolution on the implementation of the common foreign and security policy - annual report 2022.
Increasing assistance to Ukraine
The resolution stresses that the Union's swift, joint and sustained response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is a testament to the effectiveness of the Union's foreign, security and defence policy, guided by the shared values of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. To become a credible actor, the EU and its Member States must increase their military, political and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and strengthen their defence by countering the threats posed by Russia to European security.
Strategic autonomy
According to Members, the changing geopolitical landscape caused by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as other international challenges, including the steady rise of authoritarianism in the world, the strengthening of Sino-Russian cooperation, China's aggressive foreign policy the climate emergency and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, require a more rapid implementation of the concept of strategic autonomy, solidarity and geopolitical awakening of the Union, based on concrete and credible actions on priority thematic and geographical issues.
Members consider that Article 21(2) of the EU Treaty should be amended to include the concept of ‘strategic autonomy’ in the list of CFSP objectives, so that the Union becomes a sovereign actor in the fields of diplomacy and security. Furthermore, priority should be given to the rapid and full implementation of the Strategic Compass, adopted by the Council in March 2022, in cooperation with like-minded partners and in full complementarity with NATO.
Reshaping the CFSP
Highlighting that in order to achieve the geopolitical redefinition necessary to respond to the current challenges, the EU should shape its CFSP on the basis of the following four actions:
1. adapting the EU’s institutional and decision-making arrangements and generating political will and unity in foreign and security policy by adopting qualified majority voting in order to allow early preventive action and rapid responses;
2. operationalising strategic autonomy and solidarity while strengthening its approach to multilateralism and alliances, reducing strategic dependencies on non-democratic regimes and enhancing the Union’s resilience;
3. leading the reinforcement of multilateralism, strengthening and consolidating alliances and partnerships and building new strategic partnerships for a better world with like-minded democratic partners, while addressing the assertiveness of authoritarian and totalitarian regimes;
4. enhancing parliamentary diplomacy as a preventive and effective foreign policy tool.
Furthermore, the EU's external human rights policy should be consistent and exemplary. The EU should remain committed to arms control and to multilateral agreements on disarmament and non-proliferation.
Strengthening the EU’s institutional and decision-making arrangements in foreign and security policy
Members call for strategic sovereignty, security and resilience of EU and the Member States to be enhanced through more efficient decision-making in CFSP, which could be achieved by:
- switching as soon as possible to qualified majority voting for decisions in all areas of the CFSP, starting with priority areas within a year, such as the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EU Magnitsky Act) and other foreign policy areas, by using the passerelle clauses provided for in the Treaties, except for the creation of military missions or operations with an executive mandate under the CSDP, for which unanimity must still be required;
- striving to achieve a genuine military and defence union that is interoperable and complementary to the NATO Alliance and that can act independently when needed;
- encouraging, pending the full application of qualified majority voting to decisions without military or defence implications, the use of constructive abstention in line with Article 31(1) of the TEU;
- implementing and making full use of the ‘Team Europe’ approach to coordinate and avoid duplication in the EU’s foreign and security policy while projecting unity;
- providing sufficient funding, institutional capacity and technical support at EU and Member State level to prepare for and respond without delay to current, emerging and future challenges;
- introducing a role for Parliament for decisions on sending military and civilian security missions abroad.
Parliament insisted on:
- the adoption and implementation of the EU's global human rights sanctions regime;
- strengthening support for civil society organisations, activists and investigative journalists engaged in the fight against corruption;
- the priority to be given to the implementation of sanctions imposed on Russia to limit its ability to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine;
- the fundamental role that the Commission and the Member States must play in promoting climate diplomacy globally;
- the full integration of the gender dimension in all external actions of the Union;
- strengthening the EEAS and EU delegations’ capacity by providing them their own and permanent EU instruments and resources for foreign affairs and human rights protection and promotion and the fight against disinformation;
- strengthening cultural diplomacy by integrating culture as a strategic pillar in the Union's external action and by developing an EU instrument embodying the cultural aspects of the Union worldwide.
Enhancing parliamentary diplomacy
Lastly, Members highlight Parliament’s specific contribution to the EU’s foreign and security policy through its parliamentary diplomacy assets. They call for closer parliamentary scrutiny on matters of strategic relevance in European foreign affairs. The Commission and the Member States are called on to enable and strengthen parliamentary oversight of EU external action, including by continuing regular consultations with the VP/HR and the Commission, and by involving Parliament in the proper further implementation and scrutiny of the European Peace Facility and the Strategic Compass.