Brussels, 22/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - In the chapter of its programme 'Europeans - Working Together' on the European Security and Defence Policy, the Irish Presidency notes that 'the development of civilian capabilities will be a particular priority' in the first half of 2004. 'If the Union's operations are to contribute to long-term stability and security, it needs to look beyond solely military interventions. Moreover, post-conflict societies need assistance with policing, re-establishing the rule of law and building civilian administration.'
The Irish Presidency programme notes: 'The capacity of the Union to prevent and to manage conflict situations outside its borders is fundamental aspect of coherent and effective engagement with the wider world. The European Security and Defence Policy is a key instrument through which the EU can in a practical way contribute to conflict prevention and crisis management. The Irish Presidency will work with partners to facilitate further development of the Union's capabilities, both civilian and military, under ESDP. The process of setting new goals in this area, with the horizon of 2010, will be taken forward. The aim is for the Union to be capable of mounting effective crisis management operations. 2004 will see the Union becoming increasingly operational in this regard.'
'During the Irish Presidency, a number of operations are expected to be underway. On the civilian side, Police Missions in both Bosnia and FYROM will be ongoing. Preparation will also begin for the prospective European Union operations in follow-on to the UN-authorised NATO-led peace stabilisation mission (SFOR) in Bosnia Herzegovina. This will be an important challenge for the Union; SFOR is a significantly larger and more complex operation than any undertaken to date under ESDP. Civil-military co-ordination will be particularly important in this context.' (NATO has begun preparing to scale back SFOR troops from 11900 to around 7000 by June 2004 and will be deciding next year on whether to transfer the entire mission to the EU.)
'The Irish Presidency will continue to build on the work of previous Presidencies in the development of military capabilities to carry out crisis management operations. In this connection, it will work with partners on the establishment of an intergovernmental agency for defence capabilities development, as agreed at the Thessalonika European Council in June 2003.'