On Wednesday 19 April, MEPs welcomed the EU High Representative’s proposal to set up a rapid deployment capacity (RDC).
“It is important for the Union to have the necessary instruments, capabilities and flexible, robust and credible command and control structure to act effectively and react rapidly and decisively to prevent and manage crises, to assert itself as a more credible security and defence actor and to serve and protect the citizens, interests, principles and values of the Union”, stresses Javi Lopez’s report, which was adopted by the European Parliament (444 votes in favour, 96 against and 86 abstentions).
According to the European Parliament, the rapid deployment capability is essential to close the gap between the EU’s level of ambition and its actual capabilities. It also believes that the capacity should hold regular joint exercises at strategic, joint and tactical levels, based on operational scenarios, to improve readiness and interoperability.
The CDR should also be able to be deployed and act in case of emergencies, natural disasters such as floods or forest fires, or other major civil protection crises on EU territory.
It should have a permanent and fully-fledged operational headquarters under the aegis of the Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), and be financed by the EU budget for its administrative expenses and by a “revised, increased budget” European Peace Facility for its operational expenses.
MEPs also call on Member States to act under Article 44 of the TEU, which allows a group of Member States to implement a common security and defence policy mission, and to use all the instruments of the treaty to increase the credibility, flexibility and effectiveness of EU crisis management.
See the report: https://aeur.eu/f/6e6 (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)