EU: Nato-Artikel 4 für die EU? Kallas sieht keine klare Mehrheit

The EU's proposed security crisis emergency mechanism under NATO Article 4, suggested by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is facing a divided response among member states, according to Foreign Officer Kaja Kallas during a press conference following a Defence Ministers' meeting in Brussels. Some member states supported the idea of a mechanism below the NATO or EU alliance scenario, but many others wanted clarification on what precisely was planned before deciding whether to support it.

Many participants emphasized that a new mechanism should not create a dual structure alongside NATO's structures. Some member states did not express their stance. Von der Leyen had stated in mid-month during her annual State of the European Union address that the EU needed a mechanism similar to NATO Article 4, proposing a "notion of security protocol."

This would involve all member states gathering when one member state triggers it, coordinating a European response to deter further escalation and mitigate impacts. Article 4 would provide for consultations when a NATO state perceives its security is under threat. Kallas noted that this was the first significant discussion on the issue following the defence ministers' meeting, and that discussions with member states at various levels would continue.

The new mechanism would, according to them, supplement existing Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty, which states that in the event of a military attack on a member state, other member states should provide all assistance and support within their capabilities. The new mechanism could be applied in the case of Russia's hybrid attacks, which include sabotage acts, cyberattacks, or disinformation campaigns that do not cross the threshold of an open military assault.

Among those clearly supporting the EU Article 4 mechanism was Polish Defence State Secretary Paweł Zalewski, who stressed its usefulness in the context of hybrid attacks. He pointed out that the EU has a broader toolkit for possible responses, such as imposing economic sanctions, which NATO cannot do. German Defence State Secretary Sebastian Hartmann did not publicly comment on the topic.