The Bombay attack shows the relevance of an EU evacuation plan

(BRUSSELS2) The recent attack in Bombay is the - ultimate - proof that the idea of ​​having a common evacuation concept for EU nationals is more relevant than ever. It is not a question of having a 24/24 CP in Brussels nor of having a common fleet ready to leave. But to coordinate the means, to determine, country by country, which State (or States) is best able to proceed with the evacuation of nationals. A bit like France did in Chad against the rebel attack last February.

Physical and psychological necessity

The example of the attack in India demonstrates this well. The evacuation of European nationals does not only concern countries "at risk" or devoid of reception structures (hospital) or very typical hypotheses (international war such as Georgia or civil conflict such as Chad) but can also concern countries a priori stable and endowed with structures - like India - and any type of disaster (natural, technological) or terrorism. In this case, it is of course a question of “sheltering” the nationals but also of reassuring them, “by repatriating them” to the country of origin (or to a safer country). Even if beforehand they could stay put. This is sometimes just as much a psychological operation (reassuring families, public opinion) as physical. And communication. It is true that when a citizen sees arriving in a country devastated by a disaster or an attack, a representative of "his" consulate or of another European consulate. Immediately, "one" feels reassured. But this one has, generally, only one desire: to leave this "damn" country as soon as possible.

The example of evacuation in Chad - centralized organization?

From February 2 to 9, 2008, the French forces present in the country (in the bilateral “Epervier” framework) received 1750 people at the “Kosseï” camp, at N'Djamena airport, placed under French protection. Most (1402) had been brought to safety in Libreville (Gabon), by 19 aircraft rotations. The evacuees came from 79 nationalities: 42% French, around 15% European nationals (Swiss, German, Italian, British, etc.). Several diplomats from third countries (Chinese, Egyptians, Russians) were also supported. A helicopter operation had even had to be carried out to free German and American diplomats, stranded in their embassies. The case of Chad is very specific because the evacuation took place both in "ideal conditions" - France having on site not only a base, near the airport, but also a hospital and its own helicopter resources, was the only one capable of intervening in a high-intensity conflict context - difficult to reproduce in another place.

The example of Georgia - concerted means?

When war in georgia as of August, no centralized evacuation had been carried out. Each country or group of countries had organized itself as it saw fit. But simply a concerted effort. If France had very quickly sent a military plane to Tbilisi - which had taken care of citizens of other nationalities - each State had practiced its own policy. The Netherlands (which had Belgian citizens under its control) had simply chartered a bus to Armenia, leaving everyone to fend for themselves. The Germans had done the same. The Poles (who had taken charge of the Czechs) had sent a plane to Armenia to repatriate their citizens... It had gone well. But in the opinion of some evacuees, it was not really ideal. It had been a bit of the realm of resourcefulness. The "French" solution - the most direct - having been more appreciated than the "dropping" in Yerevan...

Resources mobilized for India

“A plane must leave shortly with a medical team and an evacuation team from civil security,” French Interior Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie said at the meeting of Interior Ministers of France. EU, which was held on 27 November in Brussels. Spain should also do the same, announced his Spanish counterpart.

Move towards real coordination of resources

The French Presidency of the EU proposed, before the last Council of Defense Ministers, on November 10, to develop a real concept of evacuation of citizens from countries in crisis, by resorting to military means (read: Evacuation exercise of nationals in the absence of a common concept). Project which has aroused some reluctance from certain Member States (Italy, the Netherlands in particular reluctant to share their means or to resort to military means for this). It is a more flexible concept than a centralized organization (Chad type) but firmer than a simple concerted effort (Georgia type). The EU Military Staff has been working on this for several years now (see concept project). The example of the attack in India and the next air base projection exercise with the establishment of a national evacuation cell (Read: The Bapex 2008 exercise scenario) should perhaps convince the hesitant.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)