How should Europe be defended militarily in the future? Laura Maria Wolfstädter examines the need for and the limits of the Europeanization of defense equipment, with a particular focus on the operational level, and outlines the concept of a future European Defense Union.

In light of the Russian Federation's unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine and growing uncertainties about the reliability of the transatlantic partnership, the question of Europe's defense capability is increasingly moving to the forefront of political and public debate. With reference to European sovereignty, policymakers are increasingly seeking solutions at the EU level that can meaningfully complement NATO. However, within EU law, the Common Security and Defense Policy is a special regulatory area that is largely exempt from the EU's typical principles of supranationality and instead relies on intergovernmental cooperation. Laura Maria Wolfstädter develops a reform proposal that divides the concept of armed forces into a personnel component and a material component, thereby allowing ownership of defense equipment to be concentrated in a yet-to-be-established European Defense Union. The proposed reform would strengthen Europe's military capabilities by enabling a division of financial responsibilities and enhancing interoperability. This Europeanization of defense equipment is complemented by a mutual defense clause among EU Member States that goes beyond the scope of the current solidarity clause. With her vision for Europe's future defense architecture, the author provides a basis for discussion for current reform efforts concerning the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy.

Autorentext
Born 1989; studied law at Humboldt University of Berlin and Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV (France); First State Examination in 2015; research assistant at Humboldt University of Berlin, Bielefeld University, and Leipzig University; research stay at Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (France); legal traineeship (Referendariat) at the Berlin Court of Appeal (Kammergericht); Second State Examination in 2023; doctorate (Leipzig) in 2025; lawyer in Berlin.

Inhalt

Einleitung
Erster Abschnitt - Unionsrechtliche Rahmenbedingungen
Kapitel 1: Unionsrechtliche Grundlagen der GSVP
Kapitel 2: Operative Durchführung der GSVP
Kapitel 3: Instrumente zur Verbesserung militärischer Handlungsfähigkeit
Kapitel 4: Unionsrechtlicher Rahmen für einen europäischen Verteidigungsmarkt
Zweiter Abschnitt - Verfassungsrechtliche Rahmenbedingungen
Kapitel 5: Mitgliedstaatliche Einsatzvoraussetzungen
Kapitel 6: Grenzen der Verteidigungsintegration
Dritter Abschnitt - Verteidigungsstrategisches Umfeld - Politikfeldanalyse
Kapitel 7: Das Europäische Fähigkeiten-Problem
Vierter Abschnitt - Gestaltungsvorschlag: Europäisierung der Verteidigungsgüter
Kapitel 8: Skizze einer Europäischen Verteidigungsunion
Kapitel 9: Die GSVP unter den Bedingungen der Europäischen Verteidigungsunion
Schluss