In a report of 30 September, forwarded to the Political and Security Committee on 7 October and obtained by EUROPE, the European External Action Service (EEAS) gives a positive assessment of the first year of cooperation between the civilian and military sectors in the framework of the Joint Support Coordination Cell. This unit has been operational since 3 September 2019.
During this first year, “the Cell has delivered tangible results in terms of cooperation and coordination between the civilian and military CSDP missions and its headquarters in Brussels, Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), and Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC)”, the EEAS underlined.
Created to strengthen and enable effective civil/military coordination and cooperation in the operational planning and conduct of CSDP missions, it “has met its expectations and delivered within its means and capabilities”.
The Cell has facilitated cooperation in the Horn of Africa/Somalia, the Sahel/Mali region, and the Central African Republic, where the EU has civilian and military missions. It also deals with horizontal issues, such as the coordinated response to the pandemic and to disinformation.
However, the EEAS recognises that there are still problems that cannot be solved by the Cell in its current form. For example, it has no mandate to facilitate cooperation between civilian missions and the Irini and Atalanta military operations.
Moreover, cooperation and coordination “often reach a limit when there are concerns with possible activities that have a financial impact”. “Areas of future and enhanced cooperation may require possible changes to the legislation regulating financial instruments, such as the common use of strategic airlifts or use of the Warehouse”, the EEAS says. The Cell, in its current form and structure, does not have the means and capacity, nor the mandate, to become active in this area. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)