The European Union between Peace and Armaments

Translated by Benedetta Morandini

Once, the European Union was seen as a peace project, even receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012. Although this history is recent, it now seems distant due to the challenges of an uncertain and very different present, even for that peace project which now takes on new tones, narratives, and rhetoric. Indeed, while Europe strengthens its arms industry, which it defines as the defence industry, it continues to arm the rest of the world. This is evidenced by the funding approved on July 15 by the Council of the European Union for Benin and Albania.

On July 15, 2024, the Council approved the first assistance measure of 13 million euros for the Albanian armed forces, financed by the European Peace Facility, with the aim of improving their operational efficiency in terms of mobility, protection, and manoeuvrability. On the same day, the Council also adopted assistance measures for the armed forces of Benin, amounting to 5 million euros, intended to provide military equipment necessary to meet their operational and pre-deployment training needs. With this decision, the EU's total support to Benin through the peace instrument reaches 35 million euros.

What is the European Peace Facility?

The European Peace Facility (EPF) was created to enhance the European Union's capacity to prevent conflicts, maintain peace, and strengthen international security in an era marked by complex security threats. Established on March 22, 2021, the EPF expanded and replaced previous financial mechanisms in the security sector, such as the Athena Mechanism and the Africa Peace Facility.

It is a tool that operates through missions and operations, as well as support measures for partner countries and regional and international organizations. The EPF can, therefore, cover a wide range of activities including:

• Financing peacekeeping and crisis management operations
• Providing military equipment and infrastructure
• Training and educating the security forces of partner countries
• Supporting disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs

The European Peace Facility (EPF) is a fund of over 17 billion euros, financed separately from the EU budget for the period 2021-2027. It is designed to support all actions in the military and defence sector within the framework of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). At the time of its creation, the EPF had an initial financial ceiling of 5.69 billion euros. Subsequently, the Council increased this financial ceiling in March 2023 (adding 2.29 billion euros), in June 2023 (adding 4.06 billion euros), and in March 2024 (adding 5 billion euros). The March 2024 increase includes a specific fund for assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility.

What are the active EU military operations benefiting from this instrument's funding?

All EU member states, in principle, participate in the financing of military operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy. Currently, several EU military operations benefit from the funding of the European Peace Facility.

Among these is EUNAVFOR Atalanta, an anti-piracy operation active off the Horn of Africa and in the Western Indian Ocean. This mission aims to protect World Food Programme ships and AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somalia) vessels. Another operation is EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, which is dedicated to ensuring freedom of navigation and maintaining maritime security, with particular attention to merchant and commercial ships in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Gulf. This mission provides maritime monitoring, escorts ships, and protects them from potential attacks from various maritime areas. The EUNAVFOR MED Irini mission focuses on implementing the arms embargo imposed on Libya by the United Nations Security Council. It monitors and collects information on the illicit export of petroleum products from Libya and helps combat human trafficking and smuggling networks through data collection and aerial patrolling.

The EUTM Somalia, EUTM Mozambique, and EUTM RCA (Central African Republic) missions focus on training the armed forces of the respective countries, with the aim of improving their military capabilities and contributing to the stabilization and security of the territory. EUFOR Althea is an important peacekeeping operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, initiated by the European Union nine years after the end of the war to ensure a safe and stable environment.

The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) represents the European Union's coordinated response to improve the military capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and enhance their long-term resilience. The aim is to meet both immediate and future training needs, strengthening Ukraine's efforts in defending its territory and conducting effective military operations to counter threats from Russia. Finally, the European Union also foresees security and defence initiatives in the Gulf of Guinea, including the countries of Ivory Coast, Benin, Ghana, and Togo.

From a Peace Project to a Security Bastion

The European Union, once celebrated as a global peace project, has seen its mission evolve in the face of the complexities of the modern world. No longer just a peace project, the EU now faces security challenges on multiple fronts, enhancing its military capabilities and adapting to new geopolitical realities. Through the European Peace Facility, the Union militarily supports various countries, strengthening their armed forces and highlighting a renewed commitment to global security.

This change reflects an EU aware of the pressures of an unstable present and emerging dangers. Although it may seem distant from the peace project for which it was awarded the Nobel Prize, the ultimate goal remains the safeguarding of international stability and security. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, the EU continues to redefine its role, balancing a tradition of peace with the necessity of defence.

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