EU report in 2019

Report on developments in the EU in the field of security and defence policy cooperation and its significance for Denmark

In November 2018, DIIS was asked by the Danish government to prepare an external report on the development in the EU in the field of security and defence policy cooperation and its significance for Denmark.

The report focuses on the development of the EU’s security and defence policy cooperation since the last DIIS report (2008), in particular, focusing on the period following the launch of the EU’s global strategy in the summer of 2016.

Read the summary of the commissioned report

This commissioned report has been prepared on request of the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs. The report covers the recent developments in the European Union and in Europe regarding security and defence policy, and the importance of the Danish defence opt-out in light of such changes. The analysis is based on interviews with experts, officials and representatives from the EU, NATO, Denmark and other Member States, as well as case files in the archive of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to official documents, and existing research.

This has led to the following main conclusions:

  • The implications of the Danish defence opt-out has grown over the past ten years, as defence policy co-operation among the other EU Member States has been strengthened.
  • The consequences of the defence opt-out – in the form of lost influence on matters of importance to broader Danish security interests and defence industrial interests – will increase in the coming years if current international development trends continue.
  • Denmark cannot participate in parts of the EU’s new defence co-operation, including PESCO and some aspects related to capacity development in cyber security, hybrid threats and military mobility.
  • The number of grey areas where there is doubt about the applicability of the defence opt-out has increased, which has resulted in an indirect expansion of its potential scope.

The report also shows that:

  • The defence opt-out has not impacted Denmark’s territorial security, which remains anchored in NATO co-operation.
  • Denmark can participate in parts of the EU’s new defence policy measures because they relate to policy areas outside of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and instead, are in fields where the European Commission is involved, including in particular industry, research, and transport policies.
  • The defence opt-out in itself does not pose an obstacle for Denmark from acting outside EU, such as entering into defence policy co-operation with other European states and like-minded partners.

The report’s analysis demonstrates how European security and defence policy co-operation is being rethought and strengthened, across EU institutions and in a number of fora that are outside of the EU. Denmark participates in some, but not all of these initiatives, because of the defence opt-out. The report assesses that the defence opt-out will hamper the protection of Danish interests if, in the future, there is dynamic integration, working towards increased European strategic autonomy, for example in response to increased division across the Atlantic. Conversely, the defence opt-out will be less important if the EU’s defence co-operation stagnates or is rolled back, for example due to internal disagreement among the member states.

    The research group

    The report is compiled by a research group:

    • Cecilie Felicia Stockholm Banke, Research Coordinator and Senior Researcher at DIIS
    • Graham Butler, Associate Professor at Aarhus University
    • Esther Ranum Jørgensen, Student Assistant at DIIS
    • Emilie Sort Mikkelsen, Student Assistant at DIIS
    • Hans Mouritzen, Senior Researcher at DIIS
    • Christine Nissen, Researcher at DIIS
    • Mikkel Runge Olesen, Senior Researcher at DIIS
    • Rasmus Brun Pedersen, Associate Professor at Aarhus University
    • Jon Rahbek-Clemmensen, Associate Professor at The Royal Danish Defence College
    • Jacob Linnet Schmidt, Research Assistant at DIIS

    In accordance with DIIS’ provisions, Director Kristian Fischer will be responsible for the report’s presentation.

    To support the Director’s and the research team’s work on this report, an internal advisory group has been established:

    • Louise Riis Andersen, Senior Researcher at DIIS
    • Manni Crone, Senior Researcher at DIIS
    • Flemming Splidsboel Hansen, Senior Researcher at DIIS
    • Lars Vissing, Senior Analyst at DIIS

    In addition, an external review group has been established which will read and comment on the draft for the final report, as well as assist with technical input and guidance at the thematic and methodological levels:

    • Kristian Søby Kristensen, Deputy Head of Centre and Senior Researcher at the University of Copenhagen
    • Thorsten Borring Olesen, Professor at Aarhus University
    • Jens Ringsmose, Dean at University of Southdenmark
    • Fabrizio Tassinari, Executive Director, School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute
    • Anders Wivel, Professor WSR at the University of Copenhagen

    Research and activites

    Contact

    Cecilie Felicia Stokholm Banke
    Foreign policy and diplomacy
    Head of unit, Senior researcher
    +45 3269 8938
    Christine Nissen
    Foreign policy and diplomacy
    Researcher
    +45 9132 5429
    none
    Foreign policy and diplomacy
    Senior Researcher
    +45 32698698
    Mikkel Runge Olesen
    Foreign policy and diplomacy
    Senior Researcher
    +45 28510502
    Hans Mouritzen
    Foreign policy and diplomacy
    Senior Researcher
    +45 32698790