At the recent EU summit, defense ministers from EU member states insisted they could - and will - make their own security decisions. However, they also agreed to establish mechanisms to link the European defense identity with existing NATO structures and resources. This will inevitably require additional funds to remedy capacity shortfalls, which were made all too apparent during last year's Kosovo ... read moreconflict. Publics in key EU countries support a stronger role for Europe in the alliance, but find it easier to accept a greater share of the defense spending burden if it goes toward raising Europe's profile in NATO - rather than to creating a new, independent EU defense force.
United States. Department of State. Office of Research. Key EU Publics Resist Defense Spending For Independent Euro-Force. By Janice Bell. Washington, D.C.: July 21, 2000. (Opinion Analysis M-116-00).