EU studies four options for Congo
(BRUSSELS2) Javier Solana presented four options for intervention in the Congo to the foreign ministers in response to the express and precise request of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon. Now, it will be up to the ambassadors of the Political and Security Committee (COPS) to develop more detailed elements of response, as soon as possible, by the end of the week. And if not at least before Christmas. If necessary, we will add meetings, adds a diplomat.
Two are fully European and require an agreement of the 26 (Denmark does not participate in the decision of military operations):
1st option: the triggering a battlegroup (Battle Group): This is the naturally obvious option. Because it is the very concept of battlegroup was designed... on the model of the Congo. 1500 men deployable quickly in ten days, for a short mission (about 4 months), within a radius of 6000 km. Two are on alert every semester. A Franco-German and a British until the end of 2008. Considering the German and British positions, this option seems excluded for the moment. On the other hand, this could remain open in the first half of 2009: with the presence of battlegroups led one by Italy, the other by Greece (see list of battlegroups). The sub-option of taking only a few elements from the battlegroup seems difficult to play according to the military.
2nd option: la force generation : classic mechanism for setting up a European force. It seems excluded - for the moment - for two principles, the German and British opposition in principle. The slowness of the device. Barring particular pressure from public opinion and availability (cf. the Somalia operation against pirates), this system is difficult and tricky to ramp up. This does not correspond to the request of Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary General.
These two options can be articulated in a more flexible way since they associate European means, but in a non-integrated way. This has the advantage of allowing the establishment of a more or less European response, quickly by circumventing the veto of a few Member States. But the result is not very satisfactory in terms of integrated defense policy.
3rd option: the multinational force (MNF): it is an ad hoc European force, possibly with other means. We take countries that volunteer for an operation, a few third countries. And we invent a new format of operation, like the coalitions and following the best practices mounted off Saudi Arabia (maritime coalition CTF 150) or the coalition in Afghanistan first generation. It is, in fact, turning one's back on everything that has made the value of the ESDP. An integrated force, with solidarity funding.
4th option: the bilateral competition (if necessary for multiple competitions) : each State or institution contributes as it wishes to the reinforcement of MONUC. Belgium and the Netherlands are already providing air support. The British - through cooperation - leased humanitarian transport planes. The European Union is providing assistance from the satellite centre. The European Commission also in its budget of 50 million euros has allocated some resources to the chartering of planes for the transport of humanitarian aid.
5nd option: combine certain elements: bilateral with a battlegroup.
The High Representative of the EU, Javier Solana, will be in New York this Monday, December 15, and conversations on the sidelines of the Quartet meeting could take place.
