Brussels, 16/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - Defence Ministers will begin their day on Monday with a meeting at which EU High Representative for the CFSP Javier Solana will take stock of the activities of the European Defence Agency (EDA) in 2007. They will then have an exchange of views on the guidelines for the work of the Agency in 2008, before going on to discuss the EDA budget and multi-annual (three years) budgetary planning, which the Agency has always wanted but which was blocked by some member states last year. The commander of the Althea operation will take stock of the situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The ministers are also expected to discuss the state of preparedness of the military operation in the east of Chad the north east of the Central African Republic. While stating, “We are confident that we can do it and do it well, and we are confident that it is useful,” Chairman of the EU Military Committee General Henri Bentégeat spoke of the particularly difficult conditions (climate, lack of infrastructure, geographical extent, etc.) facing this deployment. Ahead of the 3rd meeting of the force generation conference next week, he called on member states to make further efforts, particularly in terms of tactical transport and helicopters, which are essential for rapid reaction. The general said that troop numbers needed to form tactical units, engineers and also command, information and support staff had almost been raised, and operations and force headquarters were fully staffed. The main gaps were in tactical transport and medical support (there remains one role 2 field hospital of the three planned to be provided). At this point, the future European force numbers around 3,200 troops, with the main contributors being France (1,500), Poland (400), Ireland (350), Sweden (200), Austria (160), Romanian (120), Belgium (100), the Netherlands (100), and Finland (60). These figures do not include the personnel who will be required for the two tactical transport aircraft that Spain intends to make available to EUFOR or the contributions of third countries. When it reaches its full operating capacity in February 2008, EUFOR will probably have around 3,500 troops. If the officers assigned to the operations headquarters in Mont Valérien near Paris and the battalion held as strategic reserve, the Force will number 4,300 troops.
After reviewing the progress made in 2007 on capabilities, likely to be approved on Monday, the defence ministers will hold an exchange of views on the recommendations drawn up by the EU Military Staff at the request of Javier Solana on a permanent strategic planning capability.
The defence ministers will also assess the progress made on EU joint rapid response. At the press conference after the meeting of member states' Chiefs of Defence Staff (CDS) on Thursday 15 November, General Bentégeat said that the concept might be adopted in the first half of 2008. At the meeting, the CDS approved the concept of a sea rapid reaction force. The concept of an air rapid reaction force was likely to be adopted in the coming weeks. These two will complement the battlegroups, drawing from the operational resources available depending on the needs of the operation. Battlegroups, made up of army units of roughly 1,500 troops each and on stand-by for six month periods, will continue to form the basis of the rapid reaction force, but could now receive air and sea support. Unlike the battlegroups, no air or sea force units will be kept on stand-by. The EU Military Staff will use databases of available units to know how many and what type of vessels and planes are available at the time.
Still in the area of capabilities, the defence ministers will continue discussions on another point raised by Chiefs of Defence Staff on Thursday: the EU capability Development Plan. According to General Bentégeat, the Plan, presented on Thursday by EDA Chief Executive Alexander Weis, was likely to be adopted in the summer of 2008.
In late morning, the ministers will meet as the EDA Steering Board under the chairmanship of Javier Solana, and will welcome, for the first time, the Agency's new Chief Executive Alexander Weis, who will present his plans on armaments. (For more complete information, see our specialist publication, Europe Diplomacy & Defence.) The agenda also provides for the adoption of a strategic framework for Research and Technology (R/T), which will mirror the strategic framework on developing the defence technological and industrial base (EDTIB), adopted a few months ago.
The joint session with Foreign Ministers will follow the EDA Steering Board meeting and precede the working lunch devoted to EU-NATO and EU-Africa relations. The joint session with Cooperation and Development Ministers will take place after lunch. (A.By/O.J.)