Page:The Effects of Finland's Possible NATO Membership - An Assessment.pdf/22

 gress here is, in turn, dependent on the resolution of the Cyprus question, which in turn is inextricably linked with Turkey-EU relations: Turkey, as a member of NATO, has been withholding the effective implementation of the ‘Berlin Plus’ agreement.

The EU as an uncertain collective security and defence framework. The EU, however, is moving on with its common defence and security policy, which will be seen to complement and support the other fields of cooperation within the EU. This currently takes place within three major political processes, which will affect the EU’s position in the overall European security policy architecture, and its relationship with NATO accordingly.

The first is the ongoing drafting of the EU Global Strategy for the Union’s foreign and security policy, which may be followed this time by a set of action plans and possible White Papers that will ensure a better transformation of the strategic guidelines into joint preparedness and capabilities in security and defence policy. If the process reaches its goal, the EU’s key security political needs should be supported with more focused planning and capabilities.

The second process of significant political importance relates to the construction of a European defence technological and industrial base. This is a Commission-driven project which aims to enhance the competitiveness of the European defence industry among other things through the extension of the single market to defence, and by establishing a funding instrument for defence- related research in the EU budget above and beyond the existing European Security Research Programme (ESRP). If it comes to fruition, this project could strengthen the ties between European defence policy and the Union’s general economic and industrial policies, and foster a more coordinated view among the member states about the needs in terms of defence capabilities.

The third process relates to the specification of the commitments for mutual assistance within the EU which have gained more relevance due to the changing political environment and a set of more multifaceted threats. The provisions of the solidarity clause (TEU, Art. 222), which includes the use of the EU’s instruments in the case of terrorist attacks or natural/manmade catastrophes, have already been complemented with rules concerning its implementation. The mutual defence clause (TEU, Art. 42.7), which directly relates to cases of armed aggression, has gained more political impor- 22