Von der Leyen Backs a European Security Council, an Idea Championed by IEP Bocconi
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FilePB56_Towards a European Security Council (1).pdf (515.25 KB)
Ursula von der Leyen has backed the creation of a European Security Council, endorsing an idea explored by Nathalie Tocci in an IEP Bocconi policy brief published in March.
In her State of the Union address on 16 September, the European Commission president pledged to bring forward proposals for a leaders’ forum on European security, involving partners including Canada, Norway, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
“This is why we will set out our ideas to make a European Security Council a reality,” von der Leyen said. The announcement commits the Commission to developing the proposal; its institutional design remains to be defined. Read the announcement.
Tocci, a Senior Fellow at IEP Bocconi, welcomed the speech on X:
“It was a remarkable #SOTEU speech. Delighted to hear @vonderleyen endorse a European Security Council. A few months ago in this @Unibocconi IEP brief I reflected on why it’s needed and what it should do.”
Her brief, Towards a European Security Council, published on 16 March, makes the case for giving Europe’s security cooperation greater continuity. Ad hoc coalitions can mobilise quickly during a crisis, but their momentum often fades between leaders’ meetings. A permanent framework would help turn that mobilisation into sustained work.
Tocci envisages a council bringing together EU institutions and European countries, including non-EU partners such as the UK and Norway, united by a shared assessment of threats and a commitment to mutual assistance. Larger countries would hold permanent seats, while smaller countries would participate on a rotating basis.
Regular meetings and a small secretariat would support coordination on security, defence policy and defence-industrial cooperation. The council would complement the EU’s role in defence integration and efforts to strengthen Europe’s contribution to NATO.
The underlying argument is that Russia’s threat and US disengagement are structural challenges. Europe therefore needs arrangements capable of sustaining collective action beyond individual crises, the war in Ukraine and changes in American leadership.
IEP Bocconi does not express opinions of its own. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. Any errors or omissions are the responsibility of the authors.