The European Union is a powerhouse in many ways – a shared market, a common currency, and a united front on everything from climate policy to consumer protection. But when it comes to defence, things get murky. Despite its origins as a peace project after two world wars, the EU lacks a unified defence policy or an army of its own. Why is that? And could or should that ever change? In this episode of EU Untangled, Ionela Ciolan, research officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, outlines the current security threats to the EU and what should be done to address them. She also highlights the challenges of the European defence industry and answers whether the EU should have its own army.

Guest: Ionela Ciolan, Research Officer at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

Hosted & produced by Victor Aguilar & Alexander Roth; Lisa Vallese supported the preparation and communication.

Selected publications by Ionela

• Proposal for the European Commission White Paper on The Future of European Defence





• The 7Ds – Defence Extended





• The European Union is Getting Serious on Defence

Further readings

• Mission Letter to Andrius Kubilius (European Commission)





• European defence industry programme (EPRS)





• EDIS | Our common defence industrial strategy (European Commission)





• CSDP structure, instruments and agencies (EEAS)





• Defence expenditures and NATO’s 2% guideline (NATO)





• Government expenditure on defence (Eurostat)





• Get realist: How the EU can secure its position amid great power rivalry (ECFR)





• Defending Europe with less America (ECFR)





• Europe has a real defense commissioner — just not one appointed by Ursula von der Leyen (Politico)





• The never-ending debate of the European Army and why it is unhelpful (Heinrich Böll Siftung)





• Standard Eurobarometer 101 – Spring 2024 (European Union)

Listen

… to a few of our previous episodes

• “The three towers: how many seats to rule them all?”





• “Can the EU engineer innovation?”





• “How to land a job in the EU?”

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