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In the Sahel, no PeSDC mission for the moment, but a mission all the same...

(BRUSSELS2) The issue of security in the Sahel is of great concern to several European states. And it should finally be the subject of conclusions at the next Council of Foreign Ministers on Monday.

A letter from 8 countries

A discussion took place recently at the COPS, the Political and Security Committee. And 8 States had already shown their determination to act: Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden (1). They had sent a three-page letter to the High Representative in September sounding the alarm and calling for determined and concerted action at European level. This was apparently well understood. And the three rather terse paragraphs of conclusions that could be adopted on Monday are charged with meaning when one reads the original letter. They refer to it, in fact, both in the terminology of the threats taken up and of the instruments proposed.

Study a strategy

The 27 could thus ask the Commission and the High Representative to study a "strategy for the Sahel". A strategy that should emerge from a global approach because the scale of the risk is wide: from poverty to terrorism, including organized crime or drug trafficking and almost non-existent States, for lack of means. Three countries are mainly concerned: Niger, Mali and Mauritania. Apparently, it's not just a style clause, as is sometimes the case with sensitive cases. But a real order that should lead to concrete proposals quickly. Because what the 8 in particular fear is a phenomenon that will spread to countries like Chad, even Sudan in the east, which would make it an immense territory totally uncontrolled and uncontrollable.

Combine the short to the medium term

In practice, it is a question of seeing which of the European instruments would be the most useful in order to put in place a reinforcement of the action on the spot. An action that would combine: development, good governance (with the strengthening of State authorities, aid to justice), and security (fight against criminal networks and the fight against terrorism); which would combine the short (expertise and assistance) and the medium term (staff training, establishment of a judicial system). A necessity. " The assassination of a Briton did not even lead to the opening of an investigation judicial commented a specialist.

A robust mission

A "robust" expert mission could be deployed. It would therefore not be, in the minds of the authors of the initiative, one or two people who would go to reinforce the EU embassies in these countries. But a more extensive mission including both specialists in the fight against terrorism, experts in crime, the fight against drug trafficking... It could include at least fifty people (police, customs , judges, development experts...), with various technical means. Basically, the format of a Eulex mini-mission but without sheltering it under the umbrella of Defense Europe. It would benefit from the assistance, at European level, of the diplomatic service, the SitCen and the coordinator of the fight against terrorism.

No PeSDC mission

Apparently, the ambassadors seem to agree, at least a majority of them, not to launch a PeSDC mission. At least in the immediate future. Process too cumbersome and not quite adapted to the situation in these countries, I was told. Also a little too conspicuous, therefore counterproductive. Because in this case, it is not a question (as in a PeSDC mission) of having maximum visibility. But on the contrary, to have maximum discretion. And, also, to act quickly. A PeSDC mission would require too much discussion, possibly a UN resolution, and consensus does not seem to have been reached on this need.

First application of the JAI Relex couple and the Treaty of Lisbon mechanism

To this practical notion is added a political dimension. We are going to test for the first time the system resulting from the Treaty of Lisbon; the integration of the High Representative of the EU into the European Commission and the establishment of a reinforced diplomatic service. This should also make it possible to test different concepts, which have remained until then at the time of theory. The integration of security and development issues as well as the relations between Justice, Internal Affairs and External Relations (JAI - RELEX for short). It can be noted that for several years, we have been studying in the bodies of the Council and the COPS, it is time to move on to practice. With the Sahel, there is the perfect textbook case. " If we don't make it there, we never will explained to me a specialist in the matter.

(1) We can observe the interesting format of this initiative: the Nordic countries (often favorable to action on development), the Franco-German-Spanish trio (already in the "maneuver" for Somalia), as well as Portugal and the Netherlands. In almost all these countries, the anti-terrorist dimension is very present, even an almost daily reality. Only one absent: the United Kingdom.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

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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