In Brief: David McAllister MEP
In Brief: David McAllister MEP
5 October 2022
Our Korea Associate, Dr Tereza Novotna, recently sat down with the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister MEP (EPP, Germany).
Their discussion covered a broad range of issues, including the relevance of the Indo-Pacific to Europe and current as well as potential avenues for collaboration between the EU and countries across the Indo-Pacific.
9DL: Given Europe is simultaneously facing several crises close to home — Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the resulting energy crisis, climate change, and a possible new wave of COVID-19 infections — why should European citizens (and voters) care about the Indo-Pacific, which is far away? What is in it for them?
DM: The Indo-Pacific is the world’s largest and most populous region with increasing political, economic, and geostrategic importance to the EU. One Member State, France, for example, has several oversea territories in the Indo-Pacific. Together with the EU, the Indo-Pacific accounts for 70 per cent of the global flow of goods and services as well as 60 per cent of the global GDP. The recently growing regional tensions, for instance in the Taiwan Strait, and intense geopolitical competition increasingly threaten the stability and security of the region. Many Indo-Pacific countries, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand have condemned the Russian war against Ukraine in line with the EU and imposed sanctions on Moscow. In addition, Europe and the Indo-Pacific face increasingly similar challenges in a number of security-related areas, such as cyber security, terrorism, organised crime, nuclear security, and non-proliferation. It makes sense to work together more.
9DL: The EU published its Indo-Pacific strategy in September last year, while the European Parliament with you as a rapporteur approved a report on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific this June. In what specific sectors can the EU work with the countries in the Indo-Pacific? Are there any plans with like-minded partners from the region to pursue projects in third countries?
DM: The EU can already rely on a broad network of partnerships and agreements with countries in the Indo-Pacific. In December 2020, the EU and ASEAN upgraded their relations from a “dialogue” to a “strategic partnership”. Specifically, in the field of maritime policy, the EU has identified the need to further strengthen its role as a global maritime security provider. In February 2022, the Council launched the implementation of the Coordinated Maritime Presences concept in the North-Western Indian Ocean, by establishing a Maritime Area of Interest covering, for example, the Indian Ocean. Previously, the EU conducted a series of joint naval exercises and port calls, most recently with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Djibouti, and India. These projects are a crucial part of the EU’s maritime diplomacy and we need more of them. Global Gateway is another concrete initiative covering five key areas: digital connectivity, climate and energy, transportation, health, education and research. This instrument will help us to establish a shared vision for an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
9DL: Perceptions of Taiwan as a like-minded partner have changed significantly across Europe over the past two years. Some member states are seriously exploring ways to strengthen cooperation, but the fear of Chinese retaliation is real in many European capitals. Do you think Brussels will actually engage Taiwan in its Indo-Pacific Strategy, which it has already signalled it would consider doing?
DM: The EU strongly condemns the recent Chinese aggressive military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and calls for strengthened EU relations with Taipei. The EU and Taiwan are like-minded partners that share the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The European Parliament has called for strengthening relations with the democratically governed island. A recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament underlines that the status quo in the Taiwan Strait must not be changed unilaterally and opposes the use of violence. Furthermore, the resolution stresses the importance of strengthening an EU-Taiwan dialogue by deepening relations with local actors, including civil society, and fostering exchanges with Taiwanese media organisations, and highlights that such strengthened exchange will help to improve the EU’s profile and visibility inside Taiwan.
9DL: There has been a lot of discussion about a stand-alone European Army. What would be the role of such an army in relation to the Indo-Pacific? What is your view on the expansion of Germany’s (and other Member States’) military presence in the Indo-Pacific?
DM: A European army or an army of Europeans is a long-term objective. Since March 2022, the EU’s security and defence policy is based on the new Strategic Compass. This document sets out an ambitious plan of action for strengthening our security and defence policy for the next decade. As one of the key elements is to build a Rapid Deployment Force of up to 5,000 troops from 2025 onwards. It is about being able to respond rapidly and robustly to crises and threats. The Strategic Compass prioritises the Indo-Pacific as the region has emerged as a new centre of global competition. Our ambition is to contribute actively to the security and stability of the region by deepening our relations with like-minded countries in the coming years. There is also a huge potential for better cooperation in the area of cyber defence and threats regarding the maritime and space domain.
DISCLAIMER: All views expressed are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily represent that of the 9DASHLINE.com platform.