Meeting for a 'jumbo' Council on Monday 6 March, the EU's foreign affairs and defence ministers may decide to establish a structure within the EU Military Staff ensuring the command of CSDP military missions with a non-executive mandate – in other words, advisory missions.
This involves "a military planning and conduct capability (MPCC)". There are currently three non-executive, advisory and training missions: EUTM Somalia, EUTM RCA and EUTM Mali. These missions are commanded on the ground, but there is no intermediate level between the mission on the ground and the political level in Brussels, just the Political and Security Committee (PSC). The objective of the MPCC, which is likely to be directed by Esa Pulkkinen, who is also the director general of the EU Military Staff, is to bridge this gap "which, by the own admission of the commanders of these operations, undermines their effectiveness", a European source stated. This MPCC could be operational in the spring.
The ministers' discussions may also cover progress on the implementation of an annual coordinated capability planning exercise (CARD) and the implementation of permanent structured cooperation (PSC) (for further details see Europe Diplomacy & Defence). Differences in opinion continue to persist within the member states. The ministers are expected to adopt conclusions that could encourage work and which could serve as a basis for a report for the European Council on 9-10 March.
Ahead of this Council, the defence ministers will meet High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who is due to give them a strategic overview of the EU's engagement in the framework of the common security and defence policy (CSDP).
Egypt, Middle East, migration, DRC and Balkans also to be discussed. At the end of the foreign affairs-defence meeting, the Council will resume its usual formation. Over dinner, the foreign affairs ministers will be joined by their Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. They will discuss the development of the political situation and economic reforms in Egypt, bilateral cooperation (especially in the fight against terrorism and on migration), and Egypt's role in the region (especially regarding Libya, Syria and the Middle East peace process). Egypt is part of the Troïka accompanying the peace process in Libya, and is close to General Haftar. The issue of human rights may also be addressed.
This peace process will be the subject of a short discussion, in the afternoon. This is the third discussion on the Middle East situation in three months, but there is still no adoption of conclusions. The possible decisions of the new US government (challenging a two-state solution, and transferring the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem) are expected to be discussed. The ministers may also talk about the preparations for a possible Association Council between the EU and Israel. No date has been planned and the organisation of such a meeting is being debated between the member states due to the current situation on the ground, especially the very fast pace of settlement building. According to a European source, the 28 EU member states want to establish a common position with a view to an Association Council before setting a date.
The Council will also discuss the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and is expected to adopt conclusions. The situation in the DRC became worse over 2016 due to a lack of measures being taken for the organisation of elections, the constitutional framework, and with the EU again calling on 16 February for the implementation of the political agreement of 31 December. According to a European source, the conclusions would require the high representative to prepare a list of names with a view to sanctioning the people who do not respect human rights, who participate in violence or hinder a way out of the crisis.
The external aspects of migration will also be on the Council's agenda. The Council will make a review, after the summit in Malta on 3 February and the statement adopted on migration at this summit, and after the follow-up meeting of the summit in Valletta in November 2015, which took place in Malta on 8 February. The discussions should then focus on cooperation with Libya, and also on the partnership framework for migration with five priority countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal.
The final subject on the agenda will be the situation in the Western Balkans. The discussions are not expected to cover these countries' EU accession processes, but should focus more on the political tension and the economic situation in the region. Mogherini visited Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia on 1-4 March and will inform the ministers of the situation. Their discussion will also contribute to the preparations of the European Council on 9-10 March. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)