On Wednesday 30 May, the European Commission announced the launch of a logistical platform that "will ensure the rapid deployment of key equipment and assets for EU crisis management missions to any area of operation within 30 days".
According to the Commission press release, this logistical platform (the CSDP warehouse) will enable the EU's 10 civilian common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions and 8 EU Special Representatives "to benefit from support services, and quickly resort to new and used equipment and assets, such as vehicles, IT and communication equipment, protective and medical equipment". It will also provide technical maintenance and repair facilities, and maintain a strategic stock of assets. "An electronic system will be developed and made available to the civilian CSDP missions to ensure a centralised asset management and the standardisation of logistics processes", the Commission states.
Located in Kristinehamn, Sweden, the warehouse will be operated by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency MSB, in agreement with the European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments and the European External Action Service, on the basis of the agreement signed on 30 May.
It will have a budget of approximately €50 million over a period of three years, the Commission states.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday 28 May had called for civilian CSDP missions to be strengthened (see EUROPE 12028). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)