The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, has tasked the European External Action Service (EEAS) to set up a dedicated task force to temporarily support and facilitate information exchange on national military assistance in support of civilian authorities to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, the EEAS announced on Wednesday 15 April.
On 6 April, EU Defence Ministers agreed to explore ways in which military expertise could be used at EU level to support information exchange and the sharing of good practice between Member States (see EUROPE 12462/12).
The task force brings together experts from the EU Military Staff and other services as needed. “It will primarily provide a centralised point for the Member States to share - through an online platform - requests, best practices and other relevant information in response to the coronavirus pandemic”, explains the EEAS communiqué.
The task force will also reinforce “strategic communication efforts” around the contributions provided by EU Member States’ armed forces in addressing the effects of the pandemic. It will help identify lessons learnt and possible security and defence policy implications to enhance resilience and preparedness for crisis situations in the future.
Finally, the task force will be able to provide, as necessary, support to the Emergency Response Coordination Centre on the use of Member States' military assets in the context of civil protection in Europe.
It will also coordinate closely with NATO, ensuring full complementarity, mutual reinforcement and avoiding duplications, the EEAS says. This coordination is necessary as the Alliance, as well, has stepped up its coordination to accelerate and enhance support among Allies (see EUROPE 12461/26). NATO Defence Ministers began, on 15 April, to also reflect on the lessons to be learned from the crisis (see EUROPE 12466/19). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)