Berlin: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revived the issue of Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty, the mutual assistance clause, in remarks delivered to the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the German Bundestag on Monday. She noted that "it is not a question of 'whether'. The question is how we shape the 'how' and 'by what means'", just days after the informal European Council held in Cyprus on April 23-24.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the mutual defence clause was at the centre of discussions in Nicosia, where President Nikos Christodoulides called on partners to formalise it into a structured operational mechanism. President Christodoulides emphasized that when a member state's sovereignty is threatened, the response is about the speed of action. He stated that member states would send specific ideas to the Commission President on the matter.
Von der Leyen, addressing the CDU/CSU, reiterated that Article 42.7 is enshrined in the Treaties and obliges all member states to provide mutual assistance. She highlighted that the Treaty remains unclear on the specifics of action and emphasized ongoing efforts to address this issue. She pointed out Germany's potential contributions, given its size, geopolitical position, and industrial strength, to enhance defence capabilities.
The Commission President also addressed the energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. She noted that Europe has paid an additional £27 billion for gas and oil imports without receiving more supplies, highlighting Europe's vulnerability due to reliance on imported fossil fuels. She advocated for a mix of renewables and nuclear energy to enhance energy independence.
On trade, von der Leyen mentioned a series of recently concluded agreements, including a free trade agreement with Mercosur after 25 years of negotiations, and a deal with India, as well as a recent agreement with Australia. She stressed that these agreements contribute to the EU having the largest network of free trade agreements globally.
Regarding administrative efficiency, von der Leyen announced ten legislative packages aimed at reducing administrative costs by £37.5 billion. She urged member states and the European Parliament to approve the remaining packages, which are expected to save £15 billion annually.