A European Security Council: Between strategic need and institutional realities
marianna.liana…
Wed, 02/11/2026 – 16:05
5 minutes
The idea of a European Security Council (ESC) is back. Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has recently revived the proposal, arguing that the EU needs such a body to enable faster decisions on defence and security. French President Emmanuel Macron launched the debate during his election campaign in 2017, and the idea was later also taken up by Berlin.
As Russia’s war on Ukraine grinds on and doubts over America’s commitment to European security mount, it is not surprising that the idea of an ESC has resurfaced. The rationale for an ESC is twofold. First, proponents argue that it could allow for faster coordination and political decision-making, generating swifter and more strategic European responses. Second, an ESC could help Europeans bridge institutional divides, bringing together in a structured manner EU Member States interested in deepening security coordination and key non-EU partners like the UK.
While the appeal of an ESC is clear, the debate has long been shaped by a …read more
