Dublin, 13/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in the state rooms of Dublin Castle, part of which dates back to the 12th century, European Defence Ministers held a policy debate on Tuesday 12 February on preparations for the European Council of December of this year, which will mark the EU's willingness to breathe new life into the idea of Defence Europe.
The first session of the informal meeting of the Defence Council , chaired by Irish Minister for Defence, Justice and Equality Alan Shatte, took as its theme “the reinforcement of the defence capabilities” of the EU. The debate was also fuelled by a discussion document produced by the European External Action Service (EEAS). This document brought the main challenges together under four theme headings: (1) identifying the priorities to respond to capability needs; (2) improving coordination in the planning of acquisitions, on the basis of a transparent exchange of information; (3) reinforcing cooperation, including in terms of investments; (4) promoting synergies in terms of research and dual-use technologies.
The ministers discussed the need to reconcile the level of ambition with the available resources, particularly budgetary resources, and the importance of research and innovation in defence issues against a backdrop of European funding for the projects in the forthcoming framework programme for the years 2014-2020 (Horizon 2020). According to a source present at the debate, all of the ministers voiced their satisfaction with the roadmap proposed for preparations for the European Council of December 2013. The discussions will continue informally until September, at which point High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will present a general report. In the interim, the European Commission is set to present the conclusions of the work of its Defence Task Force in late May or early June, which aims to “bring a coherent and ambitious response to the industrial, strategic, economic and political challenges we are facing to organise our defence and security markets and industries within the Union”, as per the definition given earlier by European Commissioner Michel Barnier. (JK/transl.fl)