The “Ghent framework”

(BRUXELLES2) It could be the name of a painting... Is it the atmosphere of the Sint-Pieters abbey where the works took place or the concert of the Saint-Bavon cathedral the day before; in any case, it is with this term that the Belgian Minister of Defense, Pieter de Crem, summed up the discussions confirming that the Ministers of Defense had agreed on a " ghent frame ". It is " implement the Lisbon Treaty which entered into force (in 2009) but which has not yet had a military translation he agreed.

The defense ministers are all in agreement - he explained for " ask Me Ashton to give a mandate to the European Defense Agency, make, choose and select future cooperation an inventory of what can be achieved”. She will have to " assess the initiatives already taken and see how other initiatives could, in the short term, be taken to fulfill our capacities For the Minister clearly, the context of the economic crisis can help in this redefinition of tasks. " We are going to use the free cuts in the Member States to cooperate better and in several areas. »

The goal is to achieve, quickly to the first decisions, to the formal Council of Ministers of Defense in November (or December)” (1). " All EU ministers want something concrete. The agency must become operational. Some Member States regard it as a procurement agency. Which is not his role”.

A pool of helicopters

The Minister then indicated that, in concrete terms, one of the projects envisaged could be to have a body " (wing) of multinational helicopters, like the strategic aircraft group (EATC) based in Eindhoven. " The NH90s are interoperable. This is an asset for becoming anchored in the helicopter initiative. " he added. This project " would not only aim to manage the fleets of the new NH90 helicopter - however assured me an interlocutor with the knowledge of this file -. It would more generally encompass all helicopters currently available and deployable in the field. This is not to pose certain difficulties, in particular on the conditions of engagement”. This pool could intervene in very different situations, whether it is a question of military operations as such, but also of interventions in the event of disasters, forest fires or search and rescue ».

(1) The Council scheduled for November 25 has been moved to another date, possibly December 13 or 14 (to be confirmed).

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)