Brussels, 28/08/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 27 August, the United Nations Security Council adopted a declaration expressing its “satisfaction” at the “multidimensional” international presence in eastern Chad and in the north east of the Central African Republic (Birao region) to ensure the security of the refugee camps in these border regions of Darfur (EUROPE 9485). The declaration opens the road to a vote on a resolution by the UN Security Council, on one hand, and to the adoption of the Crisis Management Concept and a EU Joint Action, on the other. These two stages, which are necessary for deployment of a European force, are expected to come about at the same time. A draft Security Council resolution should soon be submitted by France and may be adopted around 17 September, the day when the EU Council is also to meet (JHA Council).
At the end of July, EU27 foreign ministers had given their approval for planning an EU military operation in the context of European security and defence policy in the country (EUROPE 9474). The ESDP mission is expected to take place in parallel to the deployment of an AU/UN hybrid force in Darfur during the last quarter of the year and may be up to 4,000 strong. Several member states, such as Spain, Italy, Poland, Romania and Sweden, have already announced their intention to take part in the future European force, the backbone of which is formed by France. (ab)