Brussels, 07/05/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the European Union (Coreper) forwarded the report by Nick Witney, who is director of the team set up to establish the European Armaments Agency, to the General Affairs Council scheduled for 17 and 18 May. The report defines practical arrangements for setting the Agency in place. Provisionally at least, the Agency will be located in Brussels. Once the Council on 17 and 18 May has become familiar with the report, the External Relations Council in June will probably adopt a common action allowing the Agency to begin its work by the end of the year.
The Agency should begin its work with a small team (between 15 and 25 persons) which will grow in size as it develops to reach 60 to 80 persons. For the few months of activity in 2004, the Agency should require about EUR 2.5 million in operating costs. Then, its annual budget should be increased to EUR 15 million. It could rise to EUR 25 million in 2005 to cover its starting costs (location of premises, purchase of material). To this must be added the cost of the different projects implemented by the Agency. It is the Council which, in its common action in June, will definitively finalise the Agency's budget.
Other issues have still to be settled by June such as relations between the Agency and third countries, relations between the Agency and the Council bodies as well as the decision-making process within the Agency's board of administration (composed of Member State Defence Ministers). Qualified majority should be the rule. However, at the request of several Member States, unanimity could be required in some cases.
The future director of the Agency has also to be appointed. He/she will be designated by the board of administration on the basis of a recommendation from Javier Solana, EU High Representative for CFSP. Although the fact of directing the team setting up the Agency does give a serious advantage to Mr Witney, this does not necessarily mean he will be the future director. We recall that France, which is also coveting the Agency directorship, has proposed Laurent Giovacchini, Director of Cooperation and Industrial Affairs within the French directorate-general for armaments (EUROPE of 20 January).