The priorities of the trio of presidencies for the ESDP, official elements

(BRUSSELS2) The Spanish, Belgian and Hungarian presidencies will present their presidency program to the press on Friday. Here are the first elements for security and defense policy as well as for the management of civil crises (civil protection) and consular protection (which are very similar in terms of causes and means of action).

The external action service in priority n°1

The big deal will of course be the establishment of the European External Action Service. " It will be of crucial importance to reach an agreement as soon as possible in 2010 on the decision setting up the organization and functioning of the service (EEAS in English).

Protection of EU citizens abroad

The three presidencies want to move forward to obtain an agreement on the " minimum levels of consular assistance which can be offered to citizens of Member States traveling outside the EU. There " coordination in crisis situations outside the territory of the EU must be strengthened » they underline. Attention " must be brought to the assessment of the leading State framework mechanism or framework nation (which operates irregularly (1)) and strengthening the pooling of consular resources ". NB: we know that it is a fairly discussed question for the future External Action Service to know to what extent it will be able to take on consular tasks for the benefit of States which have no representation in the State concerned. The position of the trio of presidencies, without being maximalist, wants to be resolutely committed to this path.

Civil protection side

Nothing really spectacular. The presidencies want to continue in line with the communications, already presented, of the European Commission on strengthening the EU's crisis response to disasters and the European approach to the prevention of natural or man-made disasters. In particular, they will monitor the implementation and development of civil protection modules as well as the strengthening of the MIC - the information and monitoring center (which will now be part of DG Humanitarian Action ECHO and no longer of DG Environment) .

Security strategy: energy and climate

The EU also wants to continue to work for the European security strategy, emphasizing climate change and energy security.

Strengthening the PeSDC

The civilian-military in the line of fire

The three presidencies declare their intention to " continue to strengthen the PeSDC in all its components, with the aim of improving the role of the Union as autonomous and global player in the sectors of conflict prevention, crisis response and management, post-conflict stabilization by putting a more special focus on civil-military synergy ". In particular, they want to improve planning and operational conduct in both civilian and military operations.

Resource pooling

In this objective, " new avenues of cooperation should be encouraged, including multinational solutions, such as pooling of resources - an important point -, training and logistics ». They also insist on the establishment of civilian and military "Headline Goals" and the improvement of rapid response capabilities. The European Defense Agency will be put to work (NB: let's hope above all that we will give it a little more resources).

Cooperation with NATO

The three presidencies want to continue "theimproved relations with NATO » at the strategic political level (otherwise COPS EU and NAC NATO), including capacity development.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

(1) It worked well during the rebel attack in Chad in February 2008, much less well during the war in Georgia in the summer of 2008 -Ossetia-Georgia: the evacuation of European nationals - or the Mumbai attacks - The Bombay attack shows the relevance of an EU evacuation plan

• External Action Service. It will be of crucial importance to reach agreement early in 2010 on the Decision concerning the organization and functioning of the EEAS.
• European Consular Cooperation. Work on the minimum levels of consular assistance to be offered to citizens of the Member States outside EU territory will be advanced. Coordination in crisis situations outside the territory of the Union needs to be further developed. Special attention will be paid to an evaluation of the “lead state” framework and enhanced consular
  cooperation through 'pooling' of consular resources. Priority will be given in this respect to training of consular staff in order to improve cooperation in crisis situations and knowledge of EU law.

• civil protection. The three Presidencies will follow up on the two Commission Communications on Reinforcing the Union's Disaster Response Capacity and on an EU approach on the prevention of natural and man-made disasters. All initiatives regarding training will be thoroughly pursued and particular attention will be paid to the implementation and development of the Civil
  Protection Modules and to the reinforcement of the Monitoring and Information Center (MIC) within the Civil Protection Mechanism framework. In addition, the Presidency will pay specific attention to the evaluation of the Civil Protection Mechanism and Financial Instrument, which will start during the term of the next three Presidencies.

• Security Strategy: energy and climate. The Union will continue to work in the framework of the European Security
  Strategy, with particular emphasis on new threats such as those associated with climate change and energy security.

• Civil-military synergy. The EU will continue to reinforce CSDP in all its components in order to enhance the role of the Union as a global and autonomous actor in the field of conflict prevention, crisis response, crisis management and post-conflict stabilization with a special focus on civil- military synergy. Priority will be given to improving the planning and operational conduct of both military and civilian operations. With due regard to the financial situation, priority will be given to making sufficient financial means available for the EU's expanding crisis management role.

• Pooling of resources. With a view to improving the effectiveness of crisis management, new ways of cooperation will be
  , including multinational solutions, encouraged such as pooling of resources, training and logistics, as well as new possibilities provided under the Lisbon Treaty.

• EU's rapid response capabilities. Special attention will be paid to implementing the civilian and military Headline Goals and enhancing the EU's rapid response capabilities will be a priority. New possibilities for the development of civilian capabilities will be further explored and the activities of the European Defense Agency for developing capabilities further developed.

• Cooperation with Nato. Special attention will be given to further improving relations with NATO at the political strategic level, including with respect to the development of capabilities.