Toespraak Hennis-Plasschaert tijdens symposium ‘Comprehensive approach, the way forward’

Toespraak | 15-05-2014

Minister Ploumen,
Thank you for your inspiring words…
Ladies and gentlemen,
Allow me to begin with a quote:

“The comprehensive approach not only makes sense – it is necessary. NATO needs to work more closely with our civilian partners on the ground, and at the political level.”

These words spoken by NATO Secretary General Rasmussen last October could not ring more true.
Effective crisis management calls for a comprehensive approach involving political, civilian and military instruments.
The good news is that the German and Dutch armed forces have been quietly showing their ability to work with non‐governmental organizations, local authorities and so on.
And as we speak, closer partnerships are continuously being built with civilian actors...
…actors that have experience and expertise in areas such as institution‐building, development, governance and legal reform.
A comprehensive approach is one that runs the gamut of operations from containing military escalation to post‐conflict peacebuilding.
It emphatically includes the social, political and economic dimensions of a crisis.
The aim?

To achieve a comprehensive and sustainable peace.
This requires that we continue to deepen the cooperation between military and civilian partners involved in peacekeeping, peace support or crisis management.
Over the past years, we have learned important lessons.
In Iraq.
And in Afghanistan.
And yes, the concept of the comprehensive approach will most certainly be further developed.
It will be extended into joint planning and joint programming.
But it will also allow for flexibility in different contexts.
To say that ‘a joint understanding of the challenges in a mission will be crucial’ is clearly stating the obvious, I know. But it is not self‐evident.
It is thus important to also be aware of the possible limitations of the partners involved — civilian or military — in a comprehensive approach.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I will not be adding anything new if I tell you that the world has become a more complex and less predictable place. And we can be sure that the reshaping of international relations will continue to
give us some severe headaches.
For reasons that are clear to all of you here, we cannot afford to turn our backs on the need for collective defense and cooperative security.
Within this context, it is absolutely crucial that we explore all possibilities for reinventing our strength.
For it is clear that we must reinvent our strength if we are to meet current and emerging threats in a rapidly changing world. Now and in the future.
In our immediate region and beyond.
In today’s interconnected world, strength at home and strength abroad are a package deal.
We are at our best when we collectively share the responsibility of protecting the world.
Each and every actor — political, civilian and military — should understand that it is both indispensable to and responsible for global security. This is the only way that sustainable peace and stability can be secured.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The first German‐Netherlands Corps has a key role to play here.
This Corps is in my opinion a prime example of cooperation of the highest quality. Experienced.
Well‐integrated.
Professional.
An early adopter of the comprehensive approach.
And this corps will be further intensifying the cooperation with civilian actors in order to be as effective as possible.
Since 1995 the first German‐Netherlands Corps has developed in an impressive way.
Clearly, the developments did not happen overnight. But I am proud to say that it now serves as an inspiring example for other countries.
In many ways, the cooperation between Germany and the Netherlands is something to cherish.
We share a history of joint military operations, in NATO and at an unprecedented level in ISAF.
And we have a relationship based on trust.
That trust has led to a further expansion of our cooperation.
This is crucial, because I am convinced that European military cooperation is no longer a choice or a nice‐to‐have. It is a necessity.
The need for a more active, more coherent and more capable EU in the field of security and defense is urgent.
Too often, you hear people say that Europe is at risk of becoming irrelevant.
But, and as I have said on other occasions, it is up to us to turn the corner.
It is up to Europe to assume more responsibility.
And Europe can achieve a lot more if we work together. Rather than counteracting each other, EU Member States should complement each other. Only then will Europe be well positioned to become a convincing security provider.
And only then will Europe be a reliable and capable NATO ally.
Let me be clear that more cooperation is not the prelude to a European army or a NATO army.
Member States or combinations of Member States will have to provide Europe with the military means to act. Political proximity is a vital condition.
Should the 28 EU Member States always act in unison?
My answer would be no.
I believe a bottom‐up approach enabled by top‐down guidance is the way forward.
It is natural that cooperation is deepening in smaller groups.
This will yield faster results than initiatives involving all 28 Member States.
The good thing is that the cooperation developed in smaller groups can be used at the European level and can inspire other Member States to undertake similar initiatives.
The cooperation achieved by smaller groups could obviously also be opened up to other Member States at a later stage.

Ladies and gentlemen,

When it comes to closer military cooperation, we need armed forces that have operated according to the same standards for a long time.
If we want to achieve tangible results, we need military leaders who know each other and each other’s national contexts.
I have to say that our armed forces – in other words: you – are remarkably well aware of this notion.
Against this background, I regard the Declaration of Intent signed by Germany and the Netherlands almost a year ago as being of the utmost importance.
It signals your commitment to building on an extensive and rock‐solid relationship, both at home and in countries far away.
The German and Dutch armed forces are ready to take their cooperation to an unprecedented level of integration. It entails the harmonisation of requirements, procedures, education and training.
And yes, it will take time.
But it's dogged that does it.
I am convinced that this declaration will result in an even deeper cooperation between our two countries, that it will help to create and maintain the capabilities Europe and NATO need.
It makes perfect sense to join forces in order to achieve the economies of scale that will enable us to boost our military effectiveness and our ability to act.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In closing, I would like to point out once more that our armed forces are well aware that there is a strong case for greater European cooperation in the field of security and defense.
They understand the need for Europe to come together in order to become a credible provider of security and a reliable and capable NATO ally.
It is at the political level that we find the obstacles.
Closer cooperation is still perceived by too many as a constraint on sovereignty and national control.
As a result, we are all too often undermining our effectiveness. If we want to protect our sovereignty through military means, however, I am convinced that closer military cooperation is indispensable.
A crucial aspect of such cooperation is the understanding that it can only be effective if partner nations are trustworthy and predictable in their responses.
Saying ‘yes’ to military cooperation means saying ‘yes’ to military participation.
Reliable partners do not pull back their shared capabilities at the last minute.
I am proud to have the first German‐Netherlands Corps as the perfect example of how to enhance our strength, maximize the use of our capabilities and optimize our joint operations.
So I would say, keep up the good work!
Thank you so much.