Brussels, 13/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - The informal meeting of Defence Ministers, scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Athens, will focus on the European Capabilities Action Plan (ECAP), after the various panels working on how to make up the EU's shortcomings in the field of military capabilities have completed their work and submitted their reports. EU15 Ministers will also naturally hold a debate on the situation in Iraq. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP, and Lord Robertson, NATO Secretary General, will take part at the meeting, during which the agreement on the security of information systems between the EU and NATO will be signed.
ECAP: The results of the boards working on the EU's deficiencies in military capabilities, compiled into a comprehensive report, will be presented to the EU15 Defence Ministers. These panels have identified various kinds of short, medium and long-term solutions (procedural improvements and force training, the acquisition of new capabilities via leasing, in particular, and the sharing of databases), which must now be implemented by project groups. Pending the inter-ministerial conference on EU military capabilities during May, when a new catalogue of capabilities for 2003 will be established and the project groups will be designated, ministers will hold a first exchange of views on the solutions proposed by the boards. Furthermore, they will discuss the idea of creating an agency for the development and acquisition of defence capabilities, on the basis of a Franco-British proposal.
Balkans: Ministers will also take stock of preparations for the future EU mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), to take over from NATO at the command of the Allied Harmony operation. Details are now being finalised and transfer of command from NATO could take place before the end of the month. The possibility of takeover of the SFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina by the EU, on which Javier Solana and the Presidency had presented a report during the External Relations Council on 25 February, could also be the subject of discussion, although it is envisaged for the longer term.
"Berlin+": The Fifteen will soon be about to finalise the "permanent arrangements" between the EU and NATO, in compliance with the "Berlin+" agreement allowing the EU to use NATO military assets for ESDP operations. These arrangements are also near completion (see EUROPE of 12 March, p.4). The agreement on information security between the EU and NATO, whereby NATO will be authorised to forward confidential information to the EU, will be signed on Friday. The agreement is a fundamental condition for future co-operation in military matters between the EU and NATO.
EU Rapid Reaction Force: The possibility of cutting down the deployment time of the EU's Rapid Reaction Force, in urgent and serious situations, will be discussed in Athens. The General Affairs Council of 19 November had entrusted COPS to work on the possibility of making the force deployable within "5 to 30 days or less", with 5,000 men. This would require specific logistic means as well as simplification of the decision-making process governing the EU's decisions on military intervention. Work is still in progress at COPS.
Finally, Ministers are also expected to discuss: (1) the ESDP Mediterranean dimension, a subject the EU Presidency holds dear, wishing to keep Mediterranean countries constantly briefed on ESDP; and (2) the role of ESDP in combating terrorism.