German minister wants to boost path for EU military mission

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer wants to make a proposal for faster and independent military missions under the umbrella of the European Union after the Bundestag elections, reported dpa.

"I think Article 44 of the European Treaties gives us the chance for joint EU decisions and the implementation of European missions by coalitions of the willing within the member states," the conservative politician told Saturday's edition of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).

"We are preparing a proposal on this, which should be on the table at a meeting of defence ministers before the end of October."

Article 44 stipulates that the EU Council may entrust the conduct of a mission to a group of member states that so wish and that have the capabilities required for such a mission. Accordingly, not all EU states have to participate directly in such missions.

If Europeans want to be taken seriously and be credible, they must be able to act credibly, Kramp-Karrenbauer said. "There can be situations in which we have a different set of interests, also within NATO."

That's why she suggested getting specific in the EU, she said: "How do the decisions fall, who would lead the force, what units are earmarked for it, what support forces?" At the moment, she sees a chance to get something going, Kramp-Karrenbauer said.

On the Taliban taking power in Afghanistan about a month ago, the Christian Democrat (CDU) politician said, "No one expected this quick fall of Kabul, I have since also looked at reports from our allies." She said she had raised the issue of local forces very early on in the German government.

"We managed to get a large number of those who have worked for the Bundeswehr over the last two years out of the country before the situation came to a head."

However, she said, those who came in as a result of more far-reaching agreements in the federal government could no longer be provided with visas. "And that is also what is bothering me personally. I addressed this very early on, but it took until well into the summer before we could really push it through in the federal government."