Setting the stage for the defence summit

In the midst of mounting pressures for Europe to act as a more capable and credible global player, last week in Vilnius EU defence ministers considered a set of recommendations to strengthen the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) on the basis of an interim report put forward by the HR/VP Catherine Ashton.   The report frames the debate on how to enable the EU to live up to its security and defence obligations in the light of new ‘geostrategic developments’ ahead of the European Council meeting in December where – for the first time since 2008 – the Heads of State and Government will address defence issues.