Two days of intense work, protagonists all European leaders and the highest institutions of the Continent: the objective of the Versailles summit, a common line of action in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine but also and above all the revision of European governance in a future key. There are two lines of action, defense and reduction of energy dependence. Gathered in the Mirror Gallery of the French Palace, guests of the host Emmanuel Macron, the European heads of state and government found several points of agreement, which they summarized in the final document of the summit. Guidelines, for now, which will have to be transformed into concrete facts in the coming months.
Common defense: higher spending in the military and cybersecurity sectors
“In light of the challenges we face and in order to better protect our citizens, while we recognize the specificity of the security and defense policy of some Member States, we need to invest more and better in defense capabilities and innovative technologies”, yes reads in the document. “We therefore agreed to: substantially increase defense spending, with a significant share for investments, focusing on identified strategic deficiencies and collaboratively developed defense capabilities within the European Union.”
The European leaders therefore invited the Commission, in coordination with the European Defense Agency, “to submit by mid-May an analysis of the investment gaps in the defense sector and propose any further initiatives necessary to strengthen European industrial defense and technological base “.
Parallel to these efforts, the leaders agreed, “we will support our partners through all that is available, including through greater use of the European Peace Fund. The next Strategic Compass will provide guidance for action to make the European Union stronger and a more capable security provider. ‘ “We also need to better prepare for the rapidly emerging challenges: protecting ourselves from ever-growing hybrid warfare, strengthening our cyber-resilience, protecting our infrastructures and fighting disinformation. We must also strengthen “, the document continues,” the security and defense dimension of industries and space activities; and we must accelerate ongoing efforts to improve military mobility across the Union. ‘
A plan to reduce energy dependence
“We call on the Commission to propose a ‘RePowerEu’ plan to gradually eliminate European energy dependence by the end of May,” reads the statement regarding the second objective at the heart of the Versailles summit.
Draghi: “A success, the EU is rarely so compact”
The Versailles summit “was a success, I have rarely seen the EU so compact”. These are the words of Mario Draghi at the end of the summit. By the end of March, the European Commission will have to present a plan indicating how the various countries will have to coordinate in terms of military investments, as well as on the energy front.
War recovery: Macron’s proposal
For now, only one proposal remains, put forward by the French president Macron and supported by the Italian government. A plan to develop strategic autonomy and meet the approximately 100 billion investments – according to initial and partial estimates – that the EU may need as a consequence of the war in Ukraine. A proposal that has been making room for days in Brussels and which, in the European chancelleries, is defined as a sort of “War Recovery”. For now, however, there are many countries that are opposed or doubtful, starting with Germany.