The committee adopted the own-initiative report - drawn up by the chairman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence, Karl von WOGAU (EPP-ED, DE) - on the implementation of the European Security Strategy (ESS) in the context of the ESDP.
The committee recognised that the ESS contains "an excellent analysis of the threats to the modern world", but emphasised "the need to monitor its implementation on a regular basis, in order to be able to react to geopolitical developments." The report also noted that meeting "the geopolitical and geo-economic challenges of the increasing worldwide competition for sources of water and energy, as well as natural disasters and the security of the Union's external borders", must be included as a strategic objective in the future development of the ESS, which it said should be subject to revision in 2008 at the latest.
Although the report emphasised that, in the event of an attack by the armed forces of a third country on the territory of the Union, "NATO remains the guarantor of collective defence," it pointed out that the EU is "on the way to developing into a Security and Defence Union as well." In this field, the report calls for the European Security and Defence Policy capabilities of the Union to be strengthened by the setting up of a common defence market, a common system of intelligence and communications standards and a European civil protection force. MEPs also stressed the importance of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe, especially the sections that would set up a solidarity clause in the event of disasters, and a clause on mutual assistance in the event of an attack on one of the Member States. The report favoured the Constitution's plans to create the post of European Foreign Minister, as well as supporting the creation of a Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of security and defence policy. The committee voted to ask for a European budget that would cover not only the civil but also the military aspects of security. And it called for the "setting up of a European standing naval force in the Mediterranean sea in order to demonstrate a European presence and enhance the EU's crisis management potential in this region."
The report also discussed preventive measures, emphasising that "the Union, in light of new threats, must be ready to act before crises break out and take early preventive action," although always in line with the United Nations Charter. It further stressed that "one of the EU's greatest contributions to preventing international terrorism is its capacity to be effective in the building or rebuilding of democratic institutions, social and economic infrastructure, good governance and civil society, and in successfully combating racism and xenophobia."