Brussels, 18/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 20 and Friday 21 February, EU defence ministers will meet for the first time in Athens to discuss three main subjects - the conclusions of the European Council adopted in December 2013 on the common security and defence policy (CSDP) (see EUROPE 10989); the EU military operations that are currently under way; and the Central African Republic (CAR).
The first session of this informal Council, which will begin on Thursday afternoon, will be fully given over to the results of the European Council on the CSDP. The European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Defence Agency have been asked to present the work undertaken to achieve the many (49) objectives that the European Council assigned them. The second session will take place the next morning and will consist of an update on the EU military operations. It will be attended by the heads of mission of EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina and EUNAVFOR Atalanta off the coast of Somalia. The final session will be the opportunity for ministers to address the humanitarian situation in the CAR, and the preparations for the deployment of the EUFOR RCA operation - final numbers for which should be close to 1,000 troops. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton will not be travelling to Athens. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will, however, be attending the first two sessions. (JK/transl.fl)