For the first time since 2003, a session of the European Council dedicated to European defence and security policy will take place. Thefact that the heads of state and government will be addressing this subject matter will provide a significant opportunity to give new impetus to concepts – which up to now have in many ways been lacking – for the project of strengthening Europe’s defence capabilities at the very highest political level. One approach that could potentially produce significant progress involves the concept of “island solutions”.