The Political-Military Group of the Council of the EU, in a document of 4 November to Member States' Ambassadors in the Political and Security Committee, put forward the guiding principles on which EU assistance measures under the future European Peace Facility should be based (see EUROPE 12578/20).
Starting from the premise that these measures should not run counter to the security and defence interests of the EU and its Member States, the political-military group recommends first of all that they be based on a needs-based approach, partner ownership and absorption capacity.
Proposals for such measures should be based on conflict-sensitive and context-specific analysis, identify risks and propose mitigation measures, reporting requirements and applicable safeguards and control mechanisms, the group adds.
In addition, the Facility should be used as one of the tools in the EU toolbox, as part of the EU's integrated approach and in coordination with international partners. According to the EU Council Working Party, synergies should be sought with European missions and operations, CSDP and other actions and support measures of the EU and its Member States. It also calls for continuity with existing actions currently funded under the African Peace Facility and the Athena mechanism.
Consistency, continuity and responsiveness should also be the watchwords, according to the group.
In addition, actions financed under the Facility will have to respect the principles and objectives of EU external action and comply with the obligations of the Union and its Member States under Community, national and international law.
The objective is the adoption, by the end of the year, of the EU Council Decision to enable the Facility to be operational by 1 January 2021. Discussions are still ongoing, in particular concerning the provision of sensitive equipment, otherwise known as ‘sensitive assistance measures’.
A document dated 6 November from the German EU Council Presidency obtained by EUROPE calls on the Member States’ Ambassadors to the EU, meeting in Coreper, to agree on issues relating to such equipment, including its definition. These could refer to military equipment or platforms designed to provide lethal force. “No supply of articles may be made that would be incompatible with the internal regulatory framework of the EU or the international obligations of the EU or all its Member States”, the Presidency paper states.
Member States must also agree on the financing of such equipment and the consequences for the financing of non-sensitive equipment. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)