Progress made on military capability

Brussels, 17/06/2005 (Agence Europe) -In the conclusions adopted on the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) on Friday, the European Council noted that with regard to military capability, work on battle groups (as part of the rapid response capability) were continuing successfully. Commitments taken by the Member States will allow the objective for the period 2005 and 2006 to be achieved, and progress has been made towards ensuring the contributions needed for the period of full operational capacity in 2007/2008. The European Council welcomes measures taken to speed up the decision-making and planning processes for EU rapid response operations. The development of European civil capability towards the overall civilian objective 2008 has been actively pursued, the conclusions stress, pointing out also that the civilian military cell has started its work and will have the capability to manage an operations centre, which will be up and running no later than June 2006. The European Council notes with satisfaction that the concept of training in the EU in the field of ESDP has started successfully to be implemented and that the necessary conditions for establishing a European Security and Defence College have been met. It also reaffirms an interest in reinforcing partnerships in cooperation with third countries and international bodies, and reiterates that the EU and NATO have continued their cooperation within the framework of their crisis management partnership.