EU Calls Off Defense Initiative at Short Notice

The European Union has abruptly dropped plans to launch a defense-policy expert group that was intended to help strengthen Europe’s military capabilities.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas canceled the initiative after resistance from government representatives. The group had been scheduled to begin work on Monday, but several member states decided that it was not the right approach at this time, an EU official said.

“Some member states were of the opinion that this was not the right way forward at this time,” the official said. After discussions with ministers, the EU decided not to pursue the initiative, according to the official.

Reports by dpa and Der Spiegel said the German and Italian governments were among those that had opposed the expert group. Under Kallas’s sponsorship, it was supposed to develop proposals for closing gaps in Europe’s conventional military capabilities faster and more effectively. Its work would have resulted in a report containing concrete recommendations.

Leading political and military representatives from several EU countries, along with Britain and Ukraine, had been expected to join. Their names were due to be presented Monday morning. The report said the article would continue to be updated.

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Some member states were of the opinion that this was not the right way forward at this time.