Vystoupení J. Chmiela na summitu "South East Europe Facing Global Challenges" 9.-10.7. 2010 v Dubrovníku

Ladies and gentleman,

• It is an honor and pleasure to attend this excellent gathering. I would like to thank the Government of Croatia for the invitation.

• The Czech Republic ranks amongst the most vocal advocates of the integration ambitions of South Eastern Europe to the European Union and NATO.

FUTURE OF EU’s SECURITY AND DEFENSE UNDER LISBON

• My main focus today is going to be the EU’s aspiration in the area of security and defense policy after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

• The European Union is in the midst of a very challenging period.  With the “dark cloud” of high public deficits hanging over the majority of the Member States, we have a heavy load on our shoulders that we have to deal with.

• At the same time, there are high expectations tied to Lisbon Treaty when it comes to the tuning up of the EU’s performance in security and defense and foreign policy in general.

• In recent weeks, steady progress has been made when it comes to the “sharpening” of institutional tools for a joint action in the external front. The political deal on the European Union External Action Service has been hammered out recently amongst the EU institutions and the blueprint is undergoing approval of the European Parliament.

• Yet, honestly speaking, I feel it has not been happening with much of a accompanying strategic political debate about the direction the EU should take or better is capable to take in pursuing its interests and making the most out of its collective weight.

• First and foremost, it will be the political will of Member States to back collective action in the area of security and defence especially, but not forgetting the energy security as well as strong involvement in the global economy, climate change issues etc. 

• After all rather than a “ready made” formula to achieve the desired effect, the Lisbon Treaty gives us a “blanc cheque”. It is therefore our collective responsibility to determine “how much we want to draw on it.”

With respect to that, I would like to spell out the following messages:

REALISTIC APPROACH TO EU SECURITY

• First, we have an opportunity to draw the line behind the time when the cooperation in this field resembled not much more than “the marriage of inconvenience” between two ideas of European security and defense.

• So instead of committing to overstretched goals, the EU should focus at least in the imminent future, on developing and strengthening of those capabilities that give it “en bloc” a real added value vis-?-vis NATO and the OSCE as well as on the international scene in general. 

• I believe the EU’s Balkans experience render important recollection of lessons learned in both positive as well as less flattering sense.  Yet, looking at the EU’s performance in the conflict zones in Georgia, Afghanistan and some parts of Africa, broadly speaking, the ESDP had over the recent years developed into quite an effective crisis management and humanitarian tool.

• As a result the EU posses a rather unique set of both civilian and military “know how”. I am therefore convinced this is where we first and foremost should direct our efforts to strengthen what is now called the Common Security and Defense Policy at this initial stage.

IMPROVING OF EU-NATO COOPERATION

• Second, it is crystal clear that should the project of Common Security and Defense Policy in the future be faithful to its new name, it will have to be developed against the background of better inter - institutional relations between the EU and NATO. 

• For the Czech Republic NATO is the cornerstone of the European security and we have been continuously pushing for reducing of the cooperation deficit with the European Union. I am convinced that there are now good conditions to move forward. Gradually, a better understanding has developed in the EU that by strengthening the Union’s capabilities, we can at the same time strengthen those of NATO - not the contrary.

• NATO is currently debating the draft of its new Strategic Concept, while the EU is gradually getting into its new “modus operandi” under the Lisbon Treaty. I see this as a good time to try to seal the political will of both parties to give mutual cooperation better shape with concrete steps.

• It would not only be beneficial for the functioning of the two bodies, but also give further stimulus to the transatlantic bond and EU’s cooperation with key allies both within NATO as well as outside of it. Take for instance countries like Australia, whose role in Afghanistan has been indispensable.

• In general, given the nature of the security challenges and threats we face, our mutual cooperation will be as existential as never before.

CONTINUING WITH ENLARGEMENT

• Third, both EU and NATO are next to common interests first and foremost built around shared values. And they must keep on spreading further. There still are countries, waiting at the doorsteps of both EU and NATO, without which our political and security structures cannot be considered complete.

• Croatia and Albania have now been for more than a year Members of NATO. The Czech Republic strongly supports integration ambitions of the entire region and pushes for speedy accession of Croatia to EU.  We are glad to see all the major political obstacles to it are out of the way now. Croatia’s joining the EU ranks would be a huge investment and an important commitment to the future of the entire South Eastern Europe.

Thank you for your attention.