Former head of Military Committee calls for independent EU defence

General Hägglund observes in his book that US attention has turned away from Europe

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Finnish General Gustav Hägglund writes in a recent book that the European Union needs its own united defence capability, and should set it up as soon as possible. Hägglund, who retired from his post as chairman of the Military Committee of the European Union in the spring, has written a new book on European defence.
      In his book, Hägglund observes that the attention of the United States has turned away from Europe towards the fight against terrorism on other continents. He said that it is unfair for Europe to complain and criticise the United States, while assuming that defending Europe is ultimately the responsibility of the USA.
     
The new division of responsibility between Europe and the United States would not mean that there would be a falling out or competition. Hägglund says that it would be "daydreaming" to think that the EU could compete militarily with the United States, whose military spending is more than twice that of the EU.
      However, he does feel that the EU countries would gain self-confidence and credibility if they were able to deal with the threats to their own territory themselves.
      While promoting a common defence for Europe, Hägglund wants to maintain close trans-Atlantic ties.
      "We ultimately benefit considerably from the fact that the Americans go after terrorists and rogue states around the world. It is easy for Europe to wag a moralising finger, with a global security factor as its ally."
     
Hägglund disagrees with the idea that the EU would be incapable of building an independent defence, because of the unwillingness of European taxpayers to spend the money. He says that a common EU defence would not cost any more than what the EU countries spend on their defence now.
      "It would be most important to rationalise the EU’s defence. For instance, not every country would have to have the full package of helicopters, planes, and fighters. The acquisitions could be shared."
      "I suspect that there would be greater readiness in Europe to spend money on defence if it were for the defence of the EU, rather than for NATO expeditions into Afghanistan or wherever."
     
In Hägglund’s view, the EU should gradually develop into the "European pillar" of NATO. This would mean a kind of reversal of roles for the EU and NATO: in the future, the EU would deal with regional defence, whereas NATO would focus on crisis management operations outside Europe.
      In such a situation he feels that it would be appropriate for the non-aligned EU member states to become members of NATO.
     
What would the benefit of a common EU defence be for Finland?
      "We must understand that the EU defence involves what Finland is doing now: defending its own territory and citizens."
      "Opposition to NATO is based on the fear that the blood of Finnish boys would be sacrificed into the soil of the Balkans. The EU is such a peace-loving organisation that it is impossible to think that it would take part in bloody adventures."
      Hägglund expects the EU’s common defence to be implemented ten years from now. He feels that such a development could also save NATO, which which he sees as something of a dinosaur: a creature of the past whose original habitat has disappeared, and which is artificially supported.
      Although he offers his opinions freely, Hägglund no longer works to make his predictions come true. He has retired, and generally turns down requests for personal appearances, preferring instead to spend time at his cottage.
      In the summer the general also acquired a puppy - a Finnish spitz, who "demands lots of attention, because she’s a bitch", Hägglund says.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish Defence Minister disagrees with General Hägglund on combining EU and NATO (20.1.2004)
  EU Military Committee chairman Gustav Hägglund wants to separate EU defence from constitution (18.12.2003)
  Hägglund to apply for more money for EU crisis management forces (12.4.2001)
  Luck and pluck and daring moves in a Generals career (27.3.2001)
  Gustav Hägglund appointed to head EU Military Committee (27.3.2001)

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