Lithuanian ministers urge faster decisions on proposed EU Security Council

LRT reports that Lithuanian ministers agree the European Union needs to strengthen its role in security, but say decisions must be made faster after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed establishing a European Security Council this week.

“We should consider how to speed up the procedures we already have and deepen our cooperation without allowing someone to block others who want to move forward,” Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told BNS. “But it will not be that simple.”

Budrys said the EU was too slow, cumbersome and procedural in responding to security issues.

Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the main goals of any European Security Council should be to ensure security effectively while reducing bureaucratic procedures.

“If a council, board or something else were to ensure a less bureaucratic process, we could discuss it and find a benefit. If it were simply another process for the sake of having a process, we would not become safer because of it,” Kaunas said during a government hour in parliament.

EU could fill gaps

Von der Leyen proposed the council as Europe faces the threat posed by Russia. Countries such as Canada, Norway, Ukraine and the United Kingdom would also take part in it.

She also said the EU needed an emergency security protocol corresponding to NATO Article 4. Under that article, a NATO member can formally consult its allies when its territorial integrity, political independence or security is threatened.

Budrys compared the possible new format for security issues with discussions on admitting new members to the EU.

“We can see how difficult it is for us to ensure compliance with the process already set out for EU enlargement, which is also a security issue, by giving Ukraine an economic and political perspective. We are getting stuck here,” he said.

“We should not create the illusion that we can quickly and easily establish alternative decision-making mechanisms in other areas. Ultimately, it will require unanimous approval, and I do not see how that could succeed,” Budrys added.

He said the EU could “fill gaps” in the continent’s security architecture by helping implement NATO defence plans.

“We lack both financial coverage and faster industrial development. Let us do that work. Any high-profile statements are a secondary outcome. We cannot move forward solely by attracting attention,” Budrys said.

Focus on defence industry

Kaunas also recalled discussions about a European army and the extent to which it would duplicate NATO capabilities.

“The practical question is this: is a NATO soldier now both a NATO soldier and a European soldier? Are we treating that as two soldiers in one person? That does not make us safer, because there is still only one person,” the minister said.

He said there needed to be a clear understanding of the goal and that systems should be changed only if necessary to achieve it.

Kaunas called for greater focus on supporting the defence industry, saying Europe needed to produce air defence systems, interceptors and weapons on time rather than in 10 or 15 years.