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European defence cooperation in the second machine age
![A Royal Air Force Atlas A400M transport aircraft flying over Bristol.](/en/center/CSS-news/2017/04/european-defence-cooperation-in-the-second-machine-age/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.243157150.jpg)
Over the past year the EU has made important steps to strengthen collective security and address its two more pressing challenges. European countries need a broader portfolio of capabilities to address the newer and wider set of threats they are confronted with. But different technological trends are undermining the leadership in weapons manufacturing European countries have long enjoyed.
The Chemical Weapons Ban in Troubled Waters
![OPCW](/en/center/CSS-news/2017/04/the-chemical-weapons-ban-in-troubled-waters-/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.996642751.jpg)
The Chemical Weapons Convention is an important achievement of international disarmament policy. However, the states parties to the treaty are increasingly at odds with each other. At the same time, due to new scientific developments, C-weapons might once again gain relevance.
Syria and the Chemical Weapons Ban
![OPCW](/en/center/CSS-news/2017/04/syria-and-the-chemical-weapons-ban/_jcr_content/pageimages/imageSmall.imageformat.contentteaser.412819466.png)
Syrian violations of the Chemical Weapons Convention put this landmark agreement at risk. State parties to the CWC must ensure the Syrian Government fully complies with it.