Geopolitical Europe Pulse: an EU commissioner for defence
27 September 2024
It took EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen a while, but now the so-called “college” of commissioners is nominated — and Andrius Kubilius is the first-ever commissioner-designate for Defence and Space. As his initiatives, and more importantly their implementation, are likely to shape the future ability of the EU to respond to geopolitical challenges, this week’s edition of the Geopolitical Europe Pulse brings you a compilation of articles with reflections on the role of a defence commissioner.
Who’s who: Most people following European foreign affairs might know that former Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas is designated High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, but who can already name all 27 commissioners and portfolios (including those with creative names like “tech sovereignty, security and democracy”)? If you cannot, the EU Commission has your back thanks to a poster with all commissioner-designates and portfolios.
Three main challenges: What will be the priorities for a defence commissioner, and what are the main challenges to prepare for? Daniel Fiott answers this question in his most recent article in Internationale Politik Quarterly, in which he also underscores the importance of defence industrial policy and unpacks the institutional dynamics.
Is a defence commissioner really necessary? The short answer by many experts is very often: yes. For twelve more nuanced arguments, check out this piece in Strategic Europe, which compiles short takes from the crème de la crème of EU defence experts.
The role of commissioners in EU security and defence policy: One can reasonably question to what extent commissioners actually shape EU security and defence policy, as most critical decisions need to be approved by member states. The hot-off-the-press article “Exploring the dynamics of policy change in EU security and defence: policy entrepreneurs behind the Strategic Compass” by Monika Sus assesses the role of the Commission and the High Representative as policy entrepreneurs behind the EU’s Strategic Compass, and demonstrates that their impact should not be underestimated.