Romania, Poland and Lithuania foreign ministers write letter breaking with EU stance on post-Brexit security as European Council meets in Salzburg; Iohannis expresses approval

Anca Alexe 20/09/2018 | 12:05

The foreign ministers of Romania, Poland and Lithuania have signed a common opinion piece in Politico.eu where they demand that “the UK’s voice is heard” after Brexit, particularly in foreign and security issues, which should be treated distinctly in negotiations between London and Brussels and not be bundled up with other topics such as trade policy.

The letter starts by urging Brussels to pay attention to one “particularly important risk”, that of Brexit’s effect on Europe’s foreign policy. The ministers – Jacek Czaputowicz, Linas Linkevicius and Teodor Melescanu – write that the UK is one of the key pillars of the EU’s external action, and that without it, “the EU’s stance on the global stage may weaken, making it more vulnerable to external threats.”

President Klaus Iohannis, who is attending the European Council meeting in Salzburg, said that although the letter was not discussed inside the Presidency, he agrees with the message as it reflects Romania’s position, since there are many common interests between Romania and Britain.

The EU’s Brexit negotiations are being carried out by Michael Barnier, who is trying to maintain a common position by all EU member states in talks with the UK. Germany and France hold the toughest positions towards Britain, but Eastern European states are more moderate due to being worried about a possible increased threat level from Russia and having been relying on the UK’s help in maritime and air security.

“Close post-Brexit cooperation will be especially vital in the EU’s eastern and southern neighborhood, in the Western Balkans and in a common policy toward Russia. The EU and U.K. will also be stronger together when it comes to development cooperation, EU-NATO relations, counterterrorism and security, and defense policy, including sanctions,” the article states.

Furthermore, the ministers say that Britain’s economic, diplomatic and military capabilities could mean that it could take a front-runner role in developing new and innovative approaches to international issues even after it leaves the bloc, which is why the EU should keep the UK as a key partner “in promoting common democratic goals in other countries.”

According to the officials, the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy is one of the least regulated areas of the EU integration, which “offers plenty of room to maneuver and shape a strategic partnership with the UK.”

As the UK will no longer be physically present at EU meetings post-Brexit, the ministers say that the EU must ensure there is “a constant flow of information between us, and that the UK’s voice is heard.”

“Foreign and security issues should be treated as unique — to ensure that they do not fall victim to possible disagreements on other issues,” they argue, adding that the EU’s geopolitical situation “will not change overnight,” and that the global security threats the bloc is facing will not disappear after Brexit.

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