The Path to European Defence

After the creation of the internal market and the introduction of the euro, the European Union is currently on the way to its next big project - a common security and defence policy, building on the steps taken thus far with ESDP and the European Security Strategy. Karl von Wogau, the chairman of the Defense and Security subcommittee of the European Parliament, has brought together a remarkable line-up of key political figures and defense experts from across Europe, to present their ideas about the road ahead. The contributors include the leaders of the three main EU institutions, the EU Commissioners responsible for relevant fields, the foreign or defense ministers of the UK, France, Germany and Poland, the NATO Secretary General and representatives of the main political currents in the European Parliament. Their contributions show that there is the political will to strengthen Europe's role in the world. At the same time they also demonstrate how much ground still remains to be covered and the differences that persist over the ultimate destination.