Brussels, 12/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 12 April, at the time of going to press, EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg were still unable to formally adopt the “operations concept” (CONOPS) for a possible EU-led military mission to back up humanitarian assistance in Libya (EUFOR Libya). The concept, which was prepared the day before by the EU Military Committee, was to translate into operational terms the decision approved by the 27 member states on 1st April (see EUROPE 10350). Delegations, however, remained divided over the very principle of military support being given for a humanitarian mission and over the limits to be imposed on EUFOR Libya. On Wednesday 13 April, ambassadors of the EU27 within the Political and Security Committee were tasked with taking stock of the situation in Libya.
Sweden, in particular, contributed to blocking the idea of military assets being committed within the framework of a humanitarian mission. Other states considered it would be acceptable for limited support to be provided by the EU, on condition that this is in line with the Oslo principles on humanitarian aid. They do not rule out the use of military support on condition that the force involved is not the same as that under the command of a military operation. The EU also remains divided over EUFOR's method of operation. Germany had, on Monday 11 April, confirmed its willingness - if the conditions of the EU Council decision are met and if the battlegroup proves the best way to assist the situation - to deploy its elements of the battlegroup on behalf of EUFOR Libya, the battlegroup now being on standby under Dutch command (in addition to Germany and the Netherlands, participant countries are Finland, Austria and Finland). Other countries, however, challenge the idea of any contact with Libyan soil. The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, on which military intervention in Libya is based, bans any occupation force in principle. “Many have translated that as 'no boots on the ground'”, a diplomat cited by AFP says. Others, on the other hand, say the resolution allows deployment of “all necessary means” for protecting civilians, thus opening the road to temporary deployment on Libyan soil for protecting civilians or humanitarian workers. And then there is the question of principle. While some, like Alain Juppé, French Foreign Minister, consider that the EU cannot be only a “humanitarian NGO”, others, including EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, remain reticent about developing the EU's military capabilities.
Once approved, EUFOR Libya could, at the request of the Organisation for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), deploy the means necessary within a few days. OCHA, which is just as reticent about the use of military might, has to date not identified a need for military support, according to one of the organisation's representatives. Operations for carrying humanitarian aid, including to the town of Misrata where the most violent clashes are taking place between forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi and the insurgents, are being continued using civilian means, via ships chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP), the Red Cross and the World Health Organisation (WHO). (A.By./transl.jl)