The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union

1259 Words3 Pages

The European Union’s role in the international sphere, as well as the aim to improve its external actions, have been considered to be the two most important features of the Lisbon Treaty. Within the Lisbon Treaty, the combination of the provisions on mutual assistance and solidarity created new pressures on member states to assist one another in cases of armed attacks, disasters being it natural or man-made and crisis on EU territory.

The Lisbon Treaty brought about many changes within the structure of the European Union. One particular change was that the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) was to be replaced by the Common and Security Defence Policy (CSDP). The Lisbon Treaty emphasized the importance of such a change because the new Common and Security Defence Policy still formed part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). The Lisbon Treaty also introduced new provisions aimed at developing the Common foreign and Defence Policy. The main focus was on the formation of a common European Defence. This would involve member states to participate in military and/or humanitarian missions and are, therefore, bound by common matters of European Defence. For this reason, the Mutual Assistance and Solidarity Clause were involved in the Treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty widened the missions carried out under the Common Security and Defence Policy. The CSDP offers cooperational framework by which EU member states can carry out missions in third countries. The aim of these missions must include; peacekeeping and strengthening international security. Prior to the Lisbon Treaty, the tasks, which the CSDP had to fulfill, included;

• Humanitatian and rescue interventions

• Prevention of war and peace-keeping missions

• T...

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...is to have all EU instruments, efficiently at the Union’s disposal. The final obligation we find under Article 222 is that the Member State is responsible to carry out its duty and assist another Member State in need of aid.

CONCLUSION

Although the awareness of the Mutual Assistance and Solidarity Clauses has increased, the question still remains of where the direction of the European defence is going. The Causes clearly lack direction at this stage of development. European and national policymakers have to harmonize their commitments in case such clauses where to be used in the near future; although it is unlikely that such emergencies or crises would be triggered. Nonetheless, it is clear that if Article 42(7) TEU and Article 222 TFEU are to combine their commitments and obligations; the European defence would definitely strife in power and ability.

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