Minister Erjavec: The EU must enhance the security and freedom of its people

4. 1. 2017

Minister Erjavec: The EU must enhance the security and freedom of its people

Ljubljana, 4 January 2017 - Today, the Cankarjev Dom Culture and Congress Centre hosted the third discussion in the last few months dealing with the future of the European Union. The event was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the opening, the participants were addressed by Minister Erjavec. The guests of the round table, entitled 'Slovenia for a successful Europe of the future - European security', were Dr Sabina Lange, expert on European external policy, Dr Iztok Prezelj, expert on national security and defence sciences, and Dr Rudi Rizman, expert on the sociology of globalisation, who discussed key issues concerning European security. The discussion was facilitated by Dr Boštjan Udovič, expert on international relations.

In his opening address, Minister Erjavec stressed that Slovenia's security is a key priority of Slovenian foreign policy. In the seven objectives in the Slovenian Declaration of Foreign Policy, security is mentioned three times. Minister Erjavec noted that the European Union has changed considerably since the 1950s, when the foundations for the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy were laid, and since 2003, when the first security strategy was adopted.
However, the tools and instruments used in the European political arena still rely too heavily on cold-war approaches to security challenges.
The Minister said that we need to strengthen European values, democracy, identity, institutions, economic power, global competitiveness, innovation, creativity and global political weight. Furthermore, global challenges and more severe security risks demand that the European Union become more, not less, open, and we must all keep in mind that migration and other contemporary challenges that the international community is facing are extremely complex and interrelated. To deal with them effectively, we need a comprehensive, people-centred approach, which addresses security and development issues in parallel. The Minister also added that Slovenia wishes to see a European Union enhancing both the security and freedom of its people.
Boštjan Udovič opened the discussion by asking whether the 60-year-old Union can ensure security by itself, stressing that security can also be enabled through dialogue.
Rudi Rizman noted that we live in critical times, when the old system is ending, but a new one has not yet been established; historically, such periods were always marked by numerous victims, but the EU is a model of a constructive response to past disruptions. The extensive changes we are witnessing will require considerable social efforts in order to understand current developments and respond accordingly.
Sabina Lange stressed that no member state can prepare for the current trials alone, and that the EU is the only framework within which member states can ensure their own safety. She further underlined that the EU is facing an existential crisis due to the foreseen exit of the United Kingdom, which is consuming a large portion of the energy required to deal effectively with the financial and economic crisis. The Lisbon Treaty has determined the instruments for tackling crises, such as the European External Action Service and others, but in order for their application to be effective, the key issue of striking a balance between the sovereignty of member states and competences of the EU must first be resolved. At the same time, sufficient funds must be ensured to maintain security, but defence funds should not be allocated to the detriment of social, health-care and other policies. An optimal level of financial resources can also be achieved though closer integration.
Iztok Prezelj noted the importance of such discussions, particularly in times of increasing threats. Solutions to current problems should be sought horizontally, through networks and interministerial integration. More than by terrorism, we are being threatened by growing right-wing movements and nationalism within the EU and by cyber threats. In his opinion, an ideal forum for resolving contemporary challenges is the OSCE, within which regular dialogue is maintained between the West and the East. How we respond to current challenges will reveal more about us than about the threats themselves, and ensuring security must not curtail the freedom of individuals.
Representatives of the interested and expert public stressed the importance of maintaining security by ensuring democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The European way of life must be preserved, despite security threats.