European Defence Initiative

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European Union
This article is part of the series: Defence of the European Union
Politics
CFSP High Representative Javier Solana Foreign and Security Policy Security and Defence Policy Defence Initiative Defence Procurement Petersberg tasks Foreign relations
Bodies
Political and Security Committee Military Committee Military Staff Defence Agency Institute for Security Studies Satellite Centre
Military Forces
Helsinki Headline Goal EUFOR Battlegroups Gendarmerie Eurocorps Deployments
Related organisations
Western European Union North Atlantic Treaty Organization
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The European Defence Initiative is a proposal for enhanced European Union defence cooperation presented by France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg in Brussels on 29 April 2004. It was based on the reinforced cooperation principle and aimed for better reactivity under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Some critics felt that this intra-European process would be a source of tension in the transatlantic arena with NATO and some felt that this was a duplication of existing means with the call for a distinct European headquarters. There were also some concerns about a multi-speed Europe. The UK was initially opposed to the concept but subsequently modified its position in favour.

It is sometimes referred to as the "Initiative of the Four".