Brussels, 12/11/2007 (EDD) - As was to be expected, the first meeting of the force generation conference for the European military operation in the east of Chad and north east of the Central African Republic did not meet the needs in terms of personnel and equipment. Further meetings - the next is scheduled for 16 November - will, it is hoped, fill in the gaps.
Given the size of the task, the size of the area to be covered and the geographical and climatic conditions, General Patrick Nash, Commander of EUFOR Chad-CAR, stressed to member states' representatives the target of 4,000 troops and the tactical transport needs.
At this point, the future European force can count on around 3,000 troops, with the main contributors being: France (1,500), Poland (400), Ireland (350), Sweden (200), Austria (160), Romania (120), Belgium (100) and Finland. The force will have French, Spanish (two planes) and Greek tactical transport aircraft, but there is still a sad lack of helicopters. (O.J.)