FT: EU considers creating NATO Article 4-style security protocol

The European Union is developing a new security protocol that could be modelled on Article 4 of NATO, the Financial Times (FT) reports, citing European diplomats.

Article 4 of the NATO treaty provides for consultations among alliance members if one of them believes that its territorial integrity, political independence or security is under threat. Unlike Article 5, however, it does not provide for the automatic use of military force.

According to the FT, not all EU member states support the idea of a new mechanism. Some European diplomats said they did not understand the need for a separate protocol and expressed concern that it could duplicate or compete with existing NATO mechanisms.

Article 4 of the NATO treaty has been invoked nine times in the alliance’s history, including twice last year.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen previously proposed developing an EU response mechanism modelled on Article 4. According to her, the European Union needs to agree on a course of action in the event of incidents that do not reach the level of armed aggression but nevertheless pose a threat to national security.

The issue of the new set of EU rules is scheduled to be discussed on September 28, the report added.

By Jeyhun Aghazada