Will the new director of the European Defense Agency be “One”?…
If you still have any hope of obtaining a high-level position in the future diplomatic service, scan the next few days and keep your phone line open! EU High Representative Cathy Ashton conducts final job interviews...
For the European Defense Agency, the High Representative (HighRep), however, already seems to have a small well-affirmed idea... To propel the current head of the military-civilian crisis planning structure (CMPD), Claude-France Arnould. The formal proposal is not yet made. But it does not command general approval among diplomats in Brussels.
Present in Brussels since 2001, CF Arnould has nevertheless worked for defense policy since the creation of the ESDP, first within the Defense Directorate of the Council of the European Union then at the head of the new CMPD (1) . She has the advantage of knowing well the mysteries of European defence, both in Brussels and in the capitals. French (2) and moreover a woman (3), she undoubtedly represents a judicious political compromise for the Baroness which can thus appear to be freed from the grip of the capitals by naming "her" candidate, without appearing to submit to France ( who had another candidate). Along the way, it allows him to clean up his organization chart. The relationship between the two women is, in fact, not looking good. It's not common knowledge, but it's an open secret. Cathy Ashton does not seem to appreciate, in general, those who have been too close to her predecessor, Javier Solana.
teeth grinding
On the side of the Member States, however, this appointment is making people cringe. However, it is the Ministers of Defense who normally have the last word for the Agency since it is the Agency's steering committee that decides on a proposal from the HighRep. Main reproach made to CF Arnould: it does not come from the seraglio of directors of the defense industry (there are other candidates from this seraglio). And France already occupies certain positions in the strategic field of the defense industry. Thus, on the "other side" at NATO, it is General Abrial who is at the head of the "Transformation" Command (SACT) in Norfolk and Patrick Auroy is Deputy General Secretary in charge of defense investments). " It's starting to get a lot of French “explains a diplomat, rather Francophile by the way. It is also Cathy Ashton's method that seems questioned. " When Javier Solana approached a candidate for the European Defense Agency, he consulted informally with member states until consensus was reached.. With Cathy Ashton, we are a bit presented with a fait accompli ". Will the Member States dare to oppose this proposal? We can doubt it.
Other in-game positions
Because Cathy Ashton is counting on the other nominations to appease everyone. By avoiding each country that presented a candidate for the Defense Agency to suffer a snub. The Finnish government thus asserts that it is sure of being able to obtain the post of the SitCen (the intelligence center of the EU) for one of its own (4). The French government has, for the moment, other fish to fry. Between the defense cooperation agreement with the British, the NATO summit, the presidency of the G20 and the internal reshuffle, there is little room for other maneuvers in Brussels, especially since the hexagonal ministries have somewhat ridiculed by each presenting a candidate. As for the country of the Squadra Azura, which was beginning to despair of not being able to place one of its own in a management position in the diplomatic service, it could obtain a first success. It is an Italian (5) who should be appointed to the post of coordination of crisis response structures, a newly created post. The problem actually lies elsewhere...
Who will lead the CMPD?
It would then remain to replace CF Arnould at the head of the CMPD. And there, it is another pair of sleeves. One of the candidates often cited in well-informed circles is the Czech Sedivy, former Deputy Secretary General of NATO, who does not receive unanimous support, far from it, and does not seem the best choice both from a professional point of view ( little experience of the EU, of European defense missions, etc.), than politics. The Czech Republic has never been a promoter of the PeSDC, it is even the dunce of the 27 on the subject. " This is the surest way to give a bad blow to the Europe of defense and to kill the CMPD sums up someone close to the case. A point of view that seems to be shared by several specialists. To be continued...
(1) Read: Claude-France Arnould takes the helm of the new civil-military leadership of the EU
(2) According to an unwritten agreement, if the first director of the European Defense Agency was a Briton, the second a German, the third had to go to France (one of the three largest contributors to the defense industry, yesterday, the first today).
(3) The High Representative has promised, in particular to the European Parliament, to ensure a gender balance in appointments to the highest posts. However, diplomacy shines in many countries with an overrepresentation of men, which sometimes borders on a certain machismo... And the successful candidate is generally well appreciated by European parliamentarians.
(4) Read: Will a Finn take over the SitCen?
(5) Name, biography and comment. Read here
