The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaia Kalas, "at the last minute" canceled the planned establishment of an expert group to strengthen European defense policy on Monday, September 7, due to resistance from representatives of several governments. "Some member states felt that this was not the right step at this time," one EU official in Brussels explained to the dpa agency late on September 6. After discussions with the defense ministers of EU countries, it was decided not to proceed with this specific initiative, he clarified. According to the agency, the governments of Germany and Italy had previously opposed the establishment of the expert group. This group was to be led by Kalas and was tasked with developing proposals on how to more quickly and effectively address gaps in Europe’s military capabilities and to present a report with specific recommendations. The group was planned to include leading political and military representatives from several EU countries, as well as the United Kingdom and Ukraine. They were to be presented at a kickoff event on the morning of September 7. ## ## Dispute Over Competencies in Military Planning As a possible reason for Germany's refusal to create the expert group, dpa cites Berlin's critical stance towards the head of the EU's foreign policy service. In defense policy matters, the German authorities tend to rely on NATO planning processes, and they are currently also advocating for the merger of a significant part of the EU's External Action Service, overseen by Kalas, with the European Commission. Meanwhile, the European agency intends to explore new opportunities for cooperation with EU countries on defense policy. "The diagnosis remains the same: Europe must move faster in the field of defense," emphasized a source from the agency. "We do not want to look back in a few years and find that Europe was so focused on where it should be in 2035 that it missed the opportunity to do what was necessary in 2027." ## ## Ukraine Was to Be Actively Involved in Strengthening Europe's Defense As announced by the head of European diplomacy on September 1 following an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Wicklow, Ireland, Ukraine would be involved in finding solutions to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities. Kyiv was to join "a new high-level group" along with senior politicians and military officials from EU countries and the United Kingdom. On that day, DW correspondent asked Kaia Kalas who would represent Ukraine in the new group, reminding her that former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov had been engaged by Italy as a defense consultant. In response, the EU official did not name the Ukrainian representative or representatives, emphasizing that the full composition of the group would be presented on September 7. The EU's High Representative also reminded that most EU countries are simultaneously NATO members; however, there are still gaps in the alliance's defense capabilities that European countries need to fill. According to her, Europe has still acted too slowly despite the increasing level of threats. "That is why we are also including Ukraine, as it has significant experience," Kaia Kalas explained, calling Kyiv "a world leader in battlefield innovations."
