Annex 1: Article 42 TEU
"1. The common security and defence policy shall
be an integral part of the common foreign and security policy.
It shall provide the Union with an operational capacity drawing
on civilian and military assets. The Union may use them on missions
outside the Union for peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening
international security in accordance with the principles of the
United Nations Charter. The performance of these tasks shall be
undertaken using capabilities provided by the Member States.
"2. The common security and defence policy shall
include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy.
This will lead to a common defence, when the European Council,
acting unanimously, so decides. It shall in that case recommend
to the Member States the adoption of such a decision in accordance
with their respective constitutional requirements. The policy
of the Union in accordance with this Section shall not prejudice
the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain
Member States and shall respect the obligations of certain Member
States, which see their common defence realised in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation (NATO), under the North Atlantic Treaty and
be compatible with the common security and defence policy established
within that framework.
"3. Member States shall make civilian and military
capabilities available to the Union for the implementation of
the common security and defence policy, to contribute to the objectives
defined by the Council. Those Member States which together establish
multinational forces may also make them available to the common
security and defence policy. Member States shall undertake progressively
to improve their military capabilities. The Agency in the field
of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and
armaments (hereinafter referred to as "the European Defence
Agency") shall identify operational requirements, shall promote
measures to satisfy those requirements, shall contribute to identifying
and, where appropriate, implementing any measure needed to strengthen
the industrial and technological base of the defence sector, shall
participate in defining a European capabilities and armaments
policy, and shall assist the Council in evaluating the improvement
of military capabilities.
"4. Decisions relating to the common security
and defence policy, including those initiating a mission as referred
to in this Article, shall be adopted by the Council acting unanimously
on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy or an initiative from a Member State.
The High Representative may propose the use of both national resources
and Union instruments, together with the Commission where appropriate.
"5. The Council may entrust the execution of
a task, within the Union framework, to a group of Member States
in order to protect the Union's values and serve its interests.
The execution of such a task shall be governed by Article 44.
"6. Those Member States whose military capabilities
fulfil higher criteria and which have made more binding commitments
to one another in this area with a view to the most demanding
missions shall establish permanent structured cooperation within
the Union framework. Such cooperation shall be governed by Article
46. It shall not affect the provisions of Article 43.
"7. If a Member State is the victim of armed
aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have
towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means
in their power, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations
Charter. This shall not prejudice the specific character of the
security and defence policy of certain Member States.
"Commitments and cooperation in this area shall
be consistent with commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation, which, for those States which are members of it,
remains the foundation of their collective defence and the forum
for its implementation."
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