What’s happened?
In the wake of the Paris attacks France has invoked a never-before-used EU article which compels all member states to offer security aid and assistance.Defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian this morning invoked Article 42.7 in the EU’s Lisbon Treaty, which states that if an EU state “is the victim of armed aggression on its territory” then other member countries must offer security aid and assistance “as they are able”.
He tweeted the news:
https://twitter.com/JY_LeDrian/status/666539080289812480/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
It’s also been reported that an EU aide said to international news agency Agence France-Presse that “France would like to ask its European partners for their bilateral support in the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria as well as increased military participation from member states in operational theatres where France is deployed.”
Le Drian has said EU partners could help “either by taking part in France's operations in Syria or Iraq, or by easing the load or providing support for France in other operations.” He gives a news conference later today, when we’ll learn more.
What’s next?
A fair summary might be: EU member states will certainly help France, but not as militaristically as the headlines suggest.Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has announced that EU member states will indeed comply with the Article, having shown their “full support and readiness to provide all the aid and assistance needed.”
But Vincenzo Scarpetta, a policy analyst from Open Europe, says these events might not be quite as dramatic as they sound. He told Prospect:
“The article says that the foreign policies of the other countries must be respected, so I don’t think triggering the article means every EU country will be obliged to contribute in the same way. Also, the article specifically demands "aid and assistance," which is very vague. That could mean the exchange of intelligence, for example. It doesn’t mean all countries will do airstrikes on Syria now—and it certainly doesn’t mean they’ll all put boots on the ground.”
“No one really knows what will happen next; it’s the first time the article’s been invoked so it’s very unclear. But there are meetings of defence ministers later today. We’ll learn more then.”
