26/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - On 24 January, the Council adopted without debate a decision to improve the pre-funding of EU rapid reaction military operations, but establishing an advance payment system from the Member States for military operations by the EU's rapid reaction force to speed up the EU's operational capacity. This will involve amending Decision 2004/197/CFSP establishing the 'Athena' mechanism for managing the cost of EU military and defence operations.