Brussels, 18/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - The French idea of launching a permanent emergency fund at EU level for the future of military crisis management operations will be discussed for the first time by EU heads of state and/or government in Brussels on Thursday 19 December (see EUROPE 10985). The French president, François Hollande, will present the idea to his colleagues in connection with the crisis in the Central African Republic and the French military operation SANGARIS in support of the African-led aid mission to the Central African Republic (MISCA), thus opening the debate at the summit.
It has already been decided that, if such a fund is set up, it would only be used for military operations carried out under the EU flag, and hence would not be available for SANGARIS, although the latter does get €50 million from the EU's fund for supporting peace in Africa which, itself, is supported by the European Development Fund. Germany and the United Kingdom have said they will provide only logistical support. The European Union has tripled its humanitarian aid budget, now exceeding €60 million (€38.5 million of it from the Commission).
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said after the Foreign Affairs Council on 16 December that the debate about the best way of helping African leaders deal with crises would be incorporated into the EU's political dialogue with the African Union over the next few months, ahead of the EU-Africa summit in Brussels in April. (AN/transl.fl)