Long Term and Short Term Perspectives: A European Army?

Past Event

Event background
With the disagreement in Europe over the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, the idea of a “European Army” has once again gained attraction amongst European leaders. EU foreign affairs representative Josep Borrell, the EU military committee chairman Claudio Graziano and the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella have recently favourably spoken towards progressing the creation of a security architecture independent from the United States. In contrast, Germany’s Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (AKK) wrote a contested article claiming that “Europe will not be able to replace America’s crucial role as a security provider”, drawing criticism from the French President Emmanuel Macron who “profoundly” disagreed with these remarks. Why are European leaders so divided on the creation of a European Army? What is the role of diplomacy in the creation of such a structure? What is Germany’s vision on this?
Speaker: Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger

Ambassador Ischinger has been Chairman of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) since 2008.

A German career diplomat, he was State Secretary (Deputy Foreign Minister) from 1998 to 2001. From 2001 to 2006, he was the Federal Republic of Germany’s Ambassador to the U.S., and from 2006 to 2008, to the Court of St James’s.

He is a Senior Professor at the Hertie School, Berlin, and serves on the boards of companies as well as non-profit-institutions, including Atlantik-Brücke/Berlin, the American Academy/Berlin, and the Atlantic Council of the United States/Washington D.C.

In conversation with: Polen Türkmen

Polen Türkmen, research associate at A Path for Europe (PfEU). Polen’s areas of interest include EU foreign affairs, EU — Turkey relations, EU’s neighbourhood policy, disinformation, populism and political theory.

Share this:

Recommended For You

Coffee Conversation Recording and Summary. What Security in the Black Sea Region? A first glimpse into the main actors, events and challenges

Past Event Event background The Black Sea region is ga
Coffee Conversation Recording and Summary. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum: Returns as a solution to European Solidarity?

Past Event Event background The new Pact on Migration and

Coffee Conversation Recording and Summary. Distributional Impacts of Carbon Pricing

Past Event Event background With this event, A Path for Eu