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Wouldn't this immediately put all of Europe into a state of war with Russia? (Assuming it was accepted now, before the end of the Russo-Ukrainian war) Edit: I

Wouldn't this immediately put all of Europe into a state of war with Russia? (Assuming it was accepted now, before the end of the Russo-Ukrainian war) Edit: I have looked it up and there are several precedents for a country joining the EU while opting out of defense[0]. However this would be the first time the EU would be in the position of wanting to refuse mutual defense, rather than the individual country wishing to opt-out. https://ecfr.eu/publication/ambiguous-alliance-neutrality-opt-outs-and-european-defence/ https://ecfr.eu/publication/ambiguous-alliance-neutrality-op...

brimble 5y ago
I don't think anyone expects the EU to move forward with this until the war is over. It's more a statement of intention.
- stickfigure 5y ago
  It likely offers a big morale boost to the Ukranians doing the fighting.
  - brimble 5y ago
    Exactly. "We're still an effective government, and here's our grand plan for the future, if we all hold together and get through this."
seanw444 5y ago
Does the EU even have collective defense? I thought it was mostly an economic union. I thought only NATO and the UN have collective defense.
- plsbenice34 5y ago
  The EU 1982 Treaty of Lisbon specifies that 'If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power'. This includes France as a nuclear power.
- akmarinov 5y ago
  It does - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Security_and_Defence_Policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Security_and_Defence_Po... Article 42: > 7. If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States. It's basically like Article 5 but for the EU.

brimble 5y ago

I don't think anyone expects the EU to move forward with this until the war is over. It's more a statement of intention.

stickfigure 5y ago
It likely offers a big morale boost to the Ukranians doing the fighting.
- brimble 5y ago
  Exactly. "We're still an effective government, and here's our grand plan for the future, if we all hold together and get through this."

seanw444 5y ago

Does the EU even have collective defense? I thought it was mostly an economic union. I thought only NATO and the UN have collective defense.

plsbenice34 5y ago
The EU 1982 Treaty of Lisbon specifies that 'If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power'. This includes France as a nuclear power.
akmarinov 5y ago
It does - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Security_and_Defence_Policy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Security_and_Defence_Po... Article 42: > 7. If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States. It's basically like Article 5 but for the EU.