Germany, France, and Poland advocate for a more robust EU international policy.
A group of European countries, including Germany, France, and Poland, are pushing for more reforms within the European Union, focusing on foreign and security policy. At a recent meeting, the foreign ministers of the three nations outlined a "Weimar Agenda," aimed at creating a stronger, more geopolitical Europe. German Chief Diplomat Annalena Baerbock revealed this plan in a city called Thuringia.
This initiative has been ongoing for more than 30 years through the Weimar Triangle discussion format connecting the three countries. The Weimar Agenda boils down to three main points: enhancing European security and defense policy, streamlining the decision-making process, and strengthening the EU's climate policy.
Firstly, European security and defense policies need to become more nimble, with a stronger European presence within NATO. This calls for maintaining the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense and collaborating on procuring military equipment.
Secondly, the EU should be able to make decisions more quickly. Unanimity is currently a significant obstacle in EU foreign and security policy, with the German government demanding its elimination. However, it remains uncertain how this could be accomplished. According to Baerbock, the European External Action Service needs to be reinforced, with improved and strategic communication essential - in the spirit of "one-for-all" diplomacy.
Lastly, the EU must advance its climate policy, as outlined by Baerbock following an initial round of talks with colleagues Stéphane Séjourné and Radoslaw Sikorski.
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- The Weimar Agenda, proposed by German Chief Diplomat Annalena Baerbock, includes a focus on enhancing European security and defense policy within the EU, which involves maintaining NATO's target of spending 2% of GDP on defense and collaborating on military equipment procurement.
- During the meeting, the foreign ministers of Germany, France, and Poland discussed the need to streamline the decision-making process in EU foreign and security policy, particularly addressing the issue of unanimity that currently poses an obstacle, with Baerbock suggesting reinforcing the European External Action Service and improving communication.
- Under the Weimar Agenda, the three EU countries also emphasized the importance of strengthening the EU's climate policy, with Baerbock collaborating with colleagues Stéphane Séjourné and Radoslaw Sikorski to advance this goal.
Source: www.ntv.de
