The EU needs more and new security partners

Enhanced and expanded cooperation between the EU and key bilateral partners will enable the EU to respond more effectively to security threats and to strengthen its role as a global strategic actor. This is the central message of the report on EU Strategic Defence and Security Partnerships adopted by the European Parliament today and authored by Michał Szczerba MEP. The report stresses that such partnerships are a critical necessity. They support the EU’s path towards strategic autonomy while remaining fully complementary to NATO. 

"Never in the history of the EU have we faced greater security challenges or greater uncertainty. In today's volatile security environment, we must respond with strength. Defence partnerships are essential to build spheres of common interest against spheres of influence and imperial actions," says Szczerba. 

Strategic Partnerships are bilateral agreements with like-minded countries which aim to strengthen security cooperation, build combat power, and improve interoperability among the armed forces of partner countries. To date, the EU has concluded such partnerships with the UK, Norway, Canada, Moldova, Albania, North Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, and most recently India. As the EU faces its most serious security situation since the Second World War, addressing these challenges requires unprecedented efforts by Member States. This can be done only with key European partners, especially NATO allies such as the UK, Norway, and Canada. 

The report places particular emphasis on Ukraine as a strategic priority partner. MEPs call for sustained military, industrial, and political support for Kyiv, security guarantees, and the use of frozen Russian assets to reconstruct Ukraine in line with international law. It proposes formalising a strategic partnership with Ukraine and accelerating EU enlargement, as a key element of expanding the EU power base and strengthening its security.

"In deterring Russian imperialism, the EU has no greater, no more important partner than Ukraine. Ukrainians are not only defending Europe, but they have also built the most battle-hardened, effective, and innovative military force on the continent. It is in the EU’s fundamental interest to deepen our partnership with Ukraine, including in defence industry cooperation and innovation. Support for Ukraine is the bedrock of EU defence,” Szczerba says.

The report reaffirms NATO as the cornerstone of collective defence, but calls at the same time for a stronger and more capable EU defence pillar, able to act autonomously if necessary. 

"The strategic reorientation of the United States means that Member States need to invest more and must close critical capability gaps. This requires deeper defence cooperation with NATO partners such as the UK, Norway, and Canada. Real strategic autonomy depends on partnerships that deliver concrete capabilities, interoperability, deterrence, and resilience,” adds Szczerba.