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Georgia, Afghanistan, Somalia… the ESDP report presented to the European Summit

(B2) The report of the EU presidency on European defense policy traditionally presented at the European summit is often the occasion to give an overview of both operations and the development of military and civilian capabilities. Regular readers of this web will not be really surprised. A few things to note (with a few additions...).

The operations

Georgia (EUMM). "Since its deployment, the mission has carried out nearly 3 patrols, day and night. (EUMM is the only force to carry out night patrols - unlike UNOMIG and the OSCE - nearly a third of the patrols take place at night, which according to an expert on the matter "makes it possible to secure but also de-dramatize" the possible incidents). Only problem : "the frequent incidents are a further reminder that the situation near the administrative line remains unstable." A volatility that I was able to observe on the spot last November (read the report). However, two positive points:A majority of IDPs from the August conflict have been able to return to their homes and villages. (And) the EU mission has taken steps to prevent incidents from escalating into conflict, including by concluding memorandums of understanding with the Georgian ministries of defense and interior and participating establishment of an Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM)" . NB: An important agreement which makes it possible to "sweep" in advance of any chain of incidents. Should we specify that with the veto put by Russia on the continuation of UNOMIG in Abkhazia and the OSCE in Ossetia (which have until June 30 to leave), the EUMM European mission remains the only international mission present on the ground. And the question of the extension of his mandate arises (it normally ends on September 15).

Afghanistan (Eupol): We know that this EUPOL mission has had all the difficulty in the world, for years, to deploy..."The decision to gradually double the size of the mission is currently being implemented."explains the report (NB: we would be at about 350 people recruited out of about 400). "The mission is deployed in Kabul and in sixteen Afghan provinces, notably within the provincial reconstruction teams and regional commands. Preparations for its deployment to the two eastern provinces are underway." The Eupol mission is more generally oriented towards "Rule of law in the broad sense: (...) the cooperation between the police and the services of the general prosecutor, the assistance in the elaboration of the essential legislative acts and the supervision of the key interlocutors within the general prosecutor's office and of the Supreme Court". "A major "training of trainers" program has also been launched, which focuses in particular on training Afghan police forces in their mission and action during the next elections. The objective is to achieve, through the leverage effect, to train 35 police officers by the 000 legislative elections."It also acts to strengthen the"Kabul Municipal Police and the
city ​​security, police reform, border police
s...". NB: It is thus a question of coordinating well with the new NATO police training force, the NTM-A, which will have a more directly operational vocation, aiming to train peacekeeping forces of order and security, with the intervention of several Member States participating in the European gendarmerie force (Italy, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey, etc.) Basically, we have a fairly classic division seen from France , a civil, urban and judicial force for Eupol; a semi-militarized, rural force dedicated to maintaining order for the NTM-A.

Atalanta Somalia (Eunavfor). The "flagship" mission of the European Union is described in a larger number of paragraphs. Much has already been said on this blog (read Atalanta 6 months, first assessment). Only one point on which I did not insist much: the implementation of "10 framework cooperation agreements with the naval forces of other States which are deployed in the region" (NB: for example China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Japan...).

The other operations are also detailed.
In Balkans : Althea Bosnia (and the question ofevolution of his mandate), Eulex Kosovo (and its full deployment and first assessment, detailed here), Eubam Moldavia-Ukraine (which is appearing under the ESDP missions - until now it was a hybrid mission, between development and defence) - In the Middle East: Eupol Copps Palestine (and its evolution towards a mission rule of law), Eubam Rafah (still suspended pending an agreement between the parties and the reopening of the Gaza Strip), Eujust Lex Iraq (which begins a pilot phase of deployment outside Baghdad, if "security" allows it)
En Africa : Eupol RD Congo (its mandate is extended until June 30, 2010, its extension to the judicial system decided more than a year ago, the establishment of two posts in the east of the country - delayed by the climate of war in end of last year - is now effective in Goma and Bukavu) and Eusec RD Congo (the chain of payment has been extended to all army personnel, and the EUSEC mission oversees human rights projects man or infrastructure financed by the EC or the Member States, and the operation "extended until September 30, 2009"), as well as the training mission for the armies of Guinea Bissau.

The capacities...

Au civil plan, the main work of this first half of 2009 focused on "the development and implementation of a "Goalkeeper" software environment" and the availability of civilian experts, with the establishment of a "inventory of availability for the reserve of experts assigned to the civil intervention teams. A secure website was presented in early 2009 (and will be made available to ESDP missions ..."

Au military blueprint, is the establishment of a secure network intended for EU operations (EU OPS WAN) which seems interesting to me. “Initial accreditation and operational services for EU SECRET level have been provided to EUMS and EMOs in France, Italy, Germany, UK and Greece. EMFs in Sweden and Germany are ongoing accreditation to OPS WAN. EMF in Italy to be connected next year." And a study on the interoperability of the EU General Staff with NATO or Finabel is underway. Otherwise, the work of "conceptualization"continue with the development of a"concept about special operations", the update of the "rapid reaction concepts". The update of the air and maritime rapid reaction concept has begun, the examination of the need for a land rapid reaction concept. Finally, advice to amateurs, a few Member States are still missing to take the turn of the guards of the Battlegroups in 2012 (assured training, limited effectiveness -;)...

Download the report in French / en anglais

 (NGV)

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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