EC Defence Policy

Abstract

Although defence is outside of the EC’s remit, it has an indirect involvement, reflected in three areas. First, the EC nations form a European sub-set of NATO, reflected in Eurogroup and the Independent European Programme Group (IEPG).¹ Second, the EC is developing industrial and technology policies, both of which involve weapons industries (e.g. aerospace, communications, electronics, nuclear power, shipbuilding, vehicles — see EC Commission, 1978). Third, the EC is likely to distort resource allocation and trade flows between members if it promotes free trade and competition in civil goods and services to the exclusion of weapons markets. Inevitably, questions arise as to whether the EC needs a defence policy embracing the development and production of weapons and the provision of collective security. In other words, is it possible for the EC to improve the efficiency of Europe’s contribution to NATO’s defence output (i.e. peace, security, protection)? Much depends on whether there are unexploited, but worthwhile, opportunities for improving the operation of European weapons and defence markets.