Brussels, 15/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - During the MILEX 07 military exercise on 13 June, the EU Operations Centre was activated. The Centre provides the EU with the capacity to command autonomous operations as part of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). Activated when required, it will be used to plan EU civilian and military operations from Brussels, and to provide a permanent communication link between Brussels and command centres in external theatres of operations.
Formally inaugurated on Wednesday, with EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana, Director General of EU Military Staff Lieutenant General David Leakey and Major General Bengt Andersson of Sweden, Operation Commander for the MILEX 07 exercise, in attendance, the Centre becomes the EU's third command post, for operations deploying up to 2,000 people. It will provide a communication link between Brussels and deployed force headquarters and will be an alternative to the two other planning and command possibilities put at the EU's disposal: the first, used as part of the EU military operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina (EUFOR-ALTHEA), provides for the use of the NATO chain of command under the terms of the Berlin+ agreements; the second provides planning and command from one of the five national operations headquarters provided by France, Germany, Greece, the United Kingdom and Italy.
When activated (in other words when preparing and running operations), the OpsCentre in the EU Military Staff (EUMS) buildings in Brussels will accommodate up to 89 civilian and military staff members. Part of EUMS, it will be made up of eight EUMS members and EUMS officers wearing two hats (officers sent in reinforcement by member states) and civilian personnel from DG9 (Crisis Management) of the Council Secretariat General. Activated when needed, it will be divided into nine subdivisions (personnel, intelligence, operations, planning, communications, training, finances, civilian and military cooperation, and medical support). Each division will be responsible for planning in its own area under the authority of the Operational Commander appointed for the operation in question. The OpsCentre will have a briefing and planning room, two video-conference rooms (one of which will be secure) and a hundred or so computers. Four satellite telecoms systems will link the Brussels OpsCentre with Operations Centres in the field.
Speaking to reporters, Javier Solana said the OpsCentre would not duplicate NATO's structures but would be beneficial to everyone - the EU, NATO and the people to be helped. The OpsCentre was activated during the MILEX 07 military exercise in Brussels and Sweden from 7-13 June, during which the EU was supporting a fictional United Nations mission in the imaginary African country of Alisia. (aby)