Notwithstanding foreseeable challenges in many areas of EU-UK relations, for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) Brexit provides a welcome opportunity for long-overdue progress and reform. European decision-makers should finally act upon the fact that Europe’s citizens are largely in favour of a truly European foreign, security and defence policy. Accord- ing to a Eurobarometer poll in June 2016, half of them would like the EU to intervene more than it currently does. 66% are in favour of a bigger role for the EU in the field of security and defence. We should therefore use Great Britain’s foreseeable exit from the EU to reform and strengthen the Union’s capabili- ties in this field.
