Publication

This brief points out that the challenge facing EU heads-of-government at their December 2013 summit is to provide a fresh start for European defense rather than focus on more of the same policies. The author believes that, if the Union is to have an influence on global affairs, Europeans must cooperate on military matters. He foresees that the summit is unlikely to deliver major new breakthroughs regarding joint military forces. Regardless of this, however, he believes that EU leaders should commit to discuss defense policy at least once every year.