Brussels, 20/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - Extremely concerned about the humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) which is worsening daily, and about the numerous inter-religious exactions/reprisals, the EU28 heads of state and government confirmed their full backing on Friday 20 December for the French military intervention in support of the African-led MISCA force to re-establish security.
They also confirmed the EU's readiness to examine all the options of a CSDP mission to contribute to the CAR's stability, from January 2014, which greatly pleased France's President François Hollande (see other article).
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton was asked to present these options at the Foreign Affairs Council so that it can take a decision in January. On Thursday 19 December, the European Council backed the idea of reviewing the Athena mechanism in order to improve the financing of future EU missions and operations in case of crisis, on the basis of a report presented by Ashton.
“The French response in the CAR has enabled the disaster of civil war to be avoided - perhaps even genocide”, said European Council President Herman Van Rompuy on leaving the summit.
Without having obtained anything from his colleagues other than offers of logistical support, Hollande was pleased to have obtained that “the options will be presented for a European operation to be decided upon in January. This will be done in the framework of the CSDP in a very short timescale. There will be a civilian operation and partly security. The requests that I made have largely been granted”. Hollande told the press: “I'm not asking for troops for military action. We need soldiers to secure the airports, health action, purely humanitarian action, the organisation of elections. It is important that the European flag can be seen”. In his opinion, “as soon as the European mission has been decided, the financing will be automatic”.
Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel was more reserved. “Initially we are speaking about a revision of the Athena mechanism. We will focus on the issue at our next meeting. There will not be any retroactive financing. As regards implementation of the civilian and military mechanisms, everything will depend on the situation in January, and Germany will not participate with troops. I have said this to François Hollande”, she told the press.
More generally, Merkel agrees for the EU to be involved in Africa - as in Mali, for example. Training missions, humanitarian aid and technical support are possibilities but “for European involvement, European decisions are needed - and not only a UN mandate”, she said at the end of the debate on defence.
The next EU-Africa summit, to be held in Brussels on 2-3 April 2014, will enable further debate. (AN/transl.fl)