Germans and Swedes take the initiative
The initiative is not common and perhaps symptomatic of a new order in European Defense. The Swedes and Germans have just presented a "paper" presented recently to the Military Committee and the PSC, entitled "European Imperative. Intensifying Military Cooperation in Europe" (which can be translated as: "A European imperative: intensifying military cooperation in Europe "). A document which is in line with the philosophy of the informal meeting in Ghent (1). And is surtitled "Food for tought" (Ingredients for reflection).
A calendar of action
This document, in its content, is interesting because it encompasses many themes from the harmonization of needs to command structures, through acquisition and training. But it does not content itself with setting a few general objectives, it insists on the more concrete prerequisites which have often (always) blocked the process of European rapprochement. We haven't gotten to the heart of the matter yet. But as the document titles, "food for thought", it is a beginning of reflection... which could offer a good basis for the permanent structured cooperation, so much talked about... but not yet realized.
The Germans and Swedes have set themselves a fairly quick timetable: debate and political commitment at the Council of Defense Ministers on 9 December next, analysis of areas at national level in the first half of 1 and decision at the level of Defense Ministers (in May under the presidency Hungarian Republic), definition of the areas and concrete actions undertaken by each State, set up in close liaison with the European Defense Agency.
Three types of cooperation
The document recommends, above all, determining three categories of areas of cooperation, following the scheme adopted in Ghent by several Ministers of Defense (German and French in particular). The editors give, what is more concrete, examples in each category.
- First category: capacities and structures considered essential by each country and therefore maintained at a strictly national level limiting cooperation to only increasing interoperability ". Examples: combat forces, combat support, intelligence, fighter jets and warships.
- Second category: areas where “enhanced cooperation is possible without creating too strong dependencies. This is the idea of pooling. Examples: non-deployable support forces, training of operational forces, strategic airlift (SAC) or tactical airlift (EATF), logistics.
- Third category: areas where “mutual dependence and trust between European partners is acceptable within an international framework of sharing of tasks and roles” (sharing). Examples: support structures necessary for education, training and exercises, long-term development capabilities such as military academies, test and evaluation and pilot training facilities, air and maritime surveillance (SUCBAS), or niche capabilities... Etc.
The 6 fields of the possible
The document recommends six areas of cooperation.
1. Harmonization of military requirements. To obtain a common basis for cooperation, the national capability objectives and the Headline Objective 2010 (at European level) should be harmonized, with the other capability development plans, by means of jointly defined military requirements plans (via the "Common Staff Target" (CST) and the "Common Staff Requirement" (CSR)). Specific national requirements should, where possible, be avoided or carefully weighed against increased complexity, costs and other factors.
2. Research & Development. Coordination and cooperation (in R&D) offers a “ high degree of efficiency improvement in an area where non-recurring costs are significant, regardless of future acquisition volumes. NB: it should be remembered that R&D is the only sector which benefits from serious support (sounding and stumbling) in Europe. Amounts that are not always used (for various reasons: ignorance of the mechanisms and complexity of the subsidy procedures, essentially).
3. Acquisition: By aggregating national demand, economies of scale could be achieved. Prerequisites: The harmonization of military requirements and the awarding of contracts on a competitive basis, an appropriate regulatory framework, close coordination between EU Member States with regard to their national industrial bases” with the aim of maintaining a high degree of defense industry skills at European level ».
4. Training and exercises. Given the diminishing number of forces in Europe, every opportunity to pool or share training facilities required for common operation and funding should be utilized. Prerequisites: harmonization of training content and teaching. And increased use of joint exercises.
5. Command structures and procedures. The establishment of common command structures and procedures would offer the possibility of increasing interoperability and real savings, on a regional basis as well as at European level ».
6. Operating costst. Given the current operational commitments, the provision of expensive devices such as strategic reconnaissance, strategic or tactical transport or national support elements is a key area for cooperation. Another sector: logistics.
Le full text
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