Macron proposes to reinforce “solidarity’’ between EU States in case of an armed attack

Macron proposes to reinforce “solidarity’’ between EU States in case of an armed attack

French President Emmanuel Macron proposed Thursday in Helsinki the setting up of “nearly automatic solidarity’’ between European States in terms of defense that would lead to their intervention should one of them be under attack. “Our will is clearly that Europe accept its strategic autonomy and reinforce its solidarity in terms of defense,’’ declared Mr. Macron during a press conference with his Finnish counterpart.

For this purpose, he proposed that “reinforced nearly automatic solidarity should be considered, which will mean that, between member States who will agree with this reform, we will have a true solidarity intervention, should one State be under attack.’’

This will make it necessary to “revise’’ the European treaties, the article 47.2 of the Lisbon Treaty in particular, which concerns mutual assistance between States, that France activated for the first time after the November 13, 2015 Paris attacks. This reform would allow the EU to have “a sort of reinforced article 5,’’ indicated the president, referring to NATO’s disposition which stipulates that an “armed attack’’ against one of the member States is “considered to be an attack against all parties,’’ thus triggering assistance relief to the State involved.


The Brussels Times


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