A Memorandum of the Action Committee for the United States of Europe

It's time for a European Defence Union.

This text is translated from English.

The reconstituted Action Committee for the United States of Europe (USE) - originally created by Jean Monnet in 1955 - aims to stimulate reaching a political solution on such an urgent and critical question with a Memorandum on a European Defence Union, based on the establishment of a European Defence System (EDS), in view of the upcoming meeting of the European Council on 6th March, the Plenary of the European Parliament of 10th March, and the publication of the White Paper on Defence on 19th March, 2025.

In this regard, the Memorandum was sent by the Action Committee to the following policymakers: European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, and the chairs of the pro-European political groups Valerie Hayer (Renew Europe), Manfred Weber (EPP) and Iratxe García Pérez (S&D).

The proposal of EDS consists of the national armies of the Member States and a 28th European Army, coordinated in a common structure.The EDS would be compatible with NATO and could serve as its European Pillar.

The proposal calls for :

• Massive joint defence investment, procurement, and research, as Russia’s military expenditure, calculated in purchasing power parity, has surpassed Europe’s combined defence spending last year
• Extension of Common Security and Defence Policy missions to territorial defence and security in our immediate neighborhood
• A Rapid Deployment Capacity of 60.000 soldiers, becoming a 28th European Army, complementary to the 27 national armies in charge of territorial defence
• Europeanisation of French nuclear capabilities with shared financing from willing EU member states

To finance the EDS, as proposed yestarday, 4 March 2025, by the President of the European Commission, we recommend exempting defence investments from the deficit rule calculation of the Stability and Growth Pact, particularly for joint EU projects.

The Action Committee also call for new EU federal bonds backed up by additional own resources, and the use of the digital euro to set up a Defence Bank.

A European Defence System could be established either: by a unanimous decision of the European Council; by a large group of Member States that share a common vision through Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); or, as a last resort, through an interim ad-hoc Treaty signed by willing Member States, to be integrated as soon as possible in the EU framework.

A democratic and fiscal reform, including the end of national vetoes in foreign and security policy, should be concluded as soon as possible in accordance with the European Parliament’s proposal of November 2023.

A European federation with a Common Defence will preserve national interests inside the EU and protect citizens and Member States against external aggressions..

As Friedrich Hölderlin said, “wherein lies the danger, grows the saving power”.

Now as in 1950, we need to develop creative efforts commensurate with the dangers that Europe is facing. The time is now.