ESDP missions: brilliant handymen, but DIY nonetheless
(BRUXELLES2) Can we continue, like that, to assemble bits and pieces of different materials, personnel, to constantly improvise? The example of the mission in Georgia proves it. ESDP missions are more a matter of "do-it-yourself". A "do-it-yourself", certainly brilliant, and which succeeds, but at the cost of what prowess, what juggling with procedural rules, particularly in terms of management (purchasing, finances, recruitment...), which are not entirely adapted (not at all, according to the very people in charge of these missions) to the current challenges posed by the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP). (*)
The organization of ESDP missions thus, in some ways, looks more like a neighborhood charity than a real international organization worthy of the name. While most NGOs and States - for civil security - have understood that in order to react quickly and be effective on the ground, it was necessary to have logistics prepared in advance, personnel files ready to go, a General Staff central...at European level, strangely, this is not the case. For military missions, it is the generation of forces that delays everything. And each state stubbornly defends its theory that having five headquarters dispersed in the member states is much better than a single headquarters in Brussels. As for the civilian missions, these are the logistical and accounting concerns, with which we have to juggle (since we are on the community budget). To this should be added civil security - which certainly depends above all on the Commission - but whose organization and structure closely resemble ESDP missions (in the vast majority of countries, civil security units also report to the Ministry Defense or Interior).
We can really ask the question why the EU does not have a few vehicles, pre-stocked in one or more member countries, which can be used for other purposes – possibly outside periods of crisis – but could leave at first glance. Or else have a framework contract with a private firm, making it possible to make these vehicles available… for example. Ditto for radio equipment, computers, uniforms, etc. One can also wonder if it is really reasonable in times of financial crisis to have six EU headquarters instead of just one in Brussels (where the liaison, if necessary, with NATO would be easier and quicker to TO DO). It might be time to rationalize. We won't be able to continue indefinitely spending so much money for nothing... Finally, we can wonder why the Battlegroups still depend on the Member States and are not made available to the EU. Either they are State instruments - and then there is no ESDP - or they are ESDP instruments - and then it is clear, they must be made available to the High Representative, during their six-month penalty (the unanimity rule governing the sending of troops remains in force and constitutes an additional guarantee). I will be answered (sometimes): "it is in progress", (more often): "the States do not agree". It may be necessary to tell oneself for a moment that the time for reflection is over. And that it is time to act - especially with an unnamed economic crisis which is a slight game-changer. As we say Gilles Merritt, we must put the States "face to face with their responsibilities". Either the need for security is common (or at least a part of it), and in this case, common means (or at least jointly financed) must be put in place. Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy must now learn concrete lessons from their beautiful joint letter...
(*) Small examples, taken from the Observation mission in Georgia. The vehicles, it was quickly. But it is also an unnamed bazaar with vehicles of different colors, of different formats; some with rather aggressive contours of the street combat type, others really civilian, white, blue, khaki... - To manage to have a certain unity, a certain image (essential in an observation mission...). As for repairs... what a headache, with almost ten vehicle models. Another small detail: there was no logo, it was the housekeeper's husband - who took the logo drawn by the observers - and his sewing machine and sewed the logos overnight. Well finally everything works pretty much. But that relies a lot on luck and... dedication.
(NGV)
