Strategic Autonomy: Not without integration

European Strategic Autonomy series - Security & Defence

Policy Brief

13/01/2022

One dimension of strategic autonomy has been firmly decided upon since the EU created its Common Security and Defence Policy in 1999: the projection of military force outside the borders of the EU. That is also the dimension that must, and can, be acted upon in the very short term.

Autonomy is a mindset. An actor that does not think autonomously will never act autonomously, regardless of its capabilities. Five components of that mindset are essential. First, member states must see the EU is a great power, in the same league as the US, Russia, and China. Second, the EU must take the lead in stabilising its own periphery – nobody will do that for it. Third, the only meaningful level of ambition remains the Headline Goal of up to 60,000 troops.


Fourth, autonomy can only be achieved in a European grouping, not by any member state alone. Finally, autonomy requires integration of national forces, not just interoperability between them. While the weak argue amongst themselves – Do we have strategic autonomy? Do we want strategic autonomy? – the strong exercise their autonomy. There is no time to waste, therefore.

Those member states that share this mindset can create a set of permanent multinational formations, with national brigades, ships, and air squadrons as building-blocks. They can do that now, so that when the EU adopts its Strategic Compass in March 2022, it can unveil a real capability initiative at the same time.

This Policy Brief is part of a Strategic Autonomy Series, you can find out more about this issue on the project webpage.

Related publications
15/03/2023

A five-point agenda for how development cooperation can support EU’s strategic autonomy

European Strategic Autonomy series - Economy & Trade
28/02/2023

Progressive pathways to European strategic autonomy 

European Strategic Autonomy series
06/02/2023

Towards a sustainable and resilient future internet 

European Strategic Autonomy series - Digital & Technology
06/07/2022

Europe needs high-tech talent

European Strategic Autonomy series - Digital & Technology
06/07/2022

Countering economic coercion

European Strategic Autonomy series - Economy & Trade
06/07/2022

Leveraging trade policy for the EU’s strategic autonomy

European Strategic Autonomy series - Economy & Trade
04/07/2022

Partnerships and European strategic autonomy

European Strategic Autonomy series - Security & Defense
28/06/2022

Sustainable digital market design

A data-based approach to the circular economy
19/05/2022

European industrial policy

European Strategic Autonomy series - Economy & Trade
16/04/2022

Strategic Autonomy Tech Alliances: Political-industrial collaboration in strategic technologies

European Strategic Autonomy series - Digital & Tech
01/03/2022

Leveraging digital regulation for Strategic Autonomy

European Strategic Autonomy series - Digital & Tech
25/11/2021

An architecture fit for strategic autonomy

European Strategic Autonomy series - Security & Defence
Find all related publications
Publications
22/04/2025

Trade, trust, and transition: Shaping the next transatlantic chapter

Essays series by FEPS and Center for American Progress (CAP)
06/03/2025

European defence for security and peace

Ensuring the security and well-being of its citizens is at the core of the European […]
06/12/2024

A feminist foreign policy approach to EU security and defence

A contradiction in terms
13/05/2024

Toward a progressive geopolitical EU

FEPS YAN Series
Find all related Progressive Post
Progressive Post
11/06/2025

Sanction Israel now: Europe’s long overdue moral reckoning on Gaza

Gaza is in ruins. Europe is out of excuses. As the EU finally begins to […]
13/03/2025

The EU and the Ukrainian people deserve more than armaments

The recent push by the European Commission towards a sizable ‘ReArm EU’ programme that boosts […]
13/03/2025

Empowering Europe for progress

There are times when history repeats itself, others when it rhymes and yet others when […]
Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
28 - 29/11/2025
Copenhagen, Denmark

Call to Europe Denmark 2025

Call to Europe, held bi-annually in the country hosting the presidency of the Council of […]
Past
23/04/2025
FEPS HQ, Brussels (Expert meeting)

Funding for conflict prevention

The EU’s role as a peace actor amid shifting priorities
07/11/2024
FEPS HQ, Brussels (Hybrid)

State of the Unions

The US election: implications for the US, the EU and global politics
Find all related news
News
13/03/2025

Europe’s defence strategy must be peace-oriented

FEPS Position Paper on European defence
15/05/2024

Notice of vacancy – Policy analyst on international relations

This vacancy is now closed.
31/05/2022

HRVP Josep Borrell participates in FEPS expert meeting on the war and the reconstruction of Ukraine

On May 23rd, FEPS organised a timely expert meeting on the war and the reconstruction […]
22/09/2021

FEPS leads a new flagship research project on EU Strategic Autonomy with top European experts

Does the EU have the capacity and agency to set priorities and make decisions autonomously […]
Find all related in the media
In the media

Andor László: Fenntarthatóság vagy hadigazdaság Európában?

by Népszava 22/04/2025
“László Andor: Sustainability or war economy in Europe” Opinion article by FEPS Secretary General László Andor, published in Népszava (HU), discussing the EU’s need to balance its security response with addressing pressing social issues such as the housing crisis affecting most member states.

СТРАТЕГИЯТА ЗА ОТБРАНА НА ЕВРОПА ТРЯБВА ДА БЪДЕ ОРИЕНТИРАНА КЪМ МИРА

by Novi Vremena 27/03/2025
In the article "Europe’s defence strategy must be peace-oriented", the Bulgarian media Novi Vremena highlights FEPS position on European defence strategy presented by László Andor, David Rinaldi and Beatriz Abellán.

Ex-EU-Kommissar Andor: Orbán gerät an die Peripherie

by Austria Presse Agentur 28/05/2024
"Former EU Commissioner Andor: Orbán is relegated to the periphery" Austrian news agency APA interviewed FEPS Secretary General László Andor on Europe's political situation ahead of the upcoming EU elections.