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Political and defence Europe (by Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

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The missions of the PeSDC in project or in the boxes

Several missions of the (European) common security and defense policy (PeSDC) are currently in the pipeline or in planning. Here are the main ones currently in progress. We can bet that the meeting that Alain Juppé is currently having with the High Representative will cover at least several of them

(Nb: the mission names are given for information only and do not reflect officially validated names).

Gaza Border Training Mission (EUBAM 2)

This (civilian) mission is part of a package of measures negotiated with the Palestinian and Israeli authorities, including infrastructure, the necessary equipment as well as the training of customs personnel to allow a flow of goods and trucks to Gaza . Discussions on a strategic orientation paper have already begun and the Civil Crisis Management Committee (CivCom) was to devote part of its session to it yesterday (Wednesday 26). Several options are in play, apparently technical but very political in fact. The European Union already has two (civilian) missions deployed in Palestine: the Palestinian police training mission (EUPOL) or the border mission (EUBAM).

There are several options. Either we establish a new mission (which seems quite difficult to justify). Or we extend one of the two existing missions. If we choose the EUBAM option, this would allow us to revive a mission that is currently on standby, and give it a new reason for being. If we choose the EUPOL option, this also makes sense. This mission already trains police officers (including the judicial police) and its role has already been extended to prison training; it would be logical to have an additional extension to Customs.

A final, very radical option would be to take advantage of the opportunity to merge the two missions. Which would have a certain administrative and operational logic but would be a political error. The EUBAM mission is currently holding to an agreement linked to the Israeli withdrawal from certain occupied territories. This would, in a way, recognize that the Israeli position has prevailed over the Palestinian position. This would also require, in the event of a new agreement, to renegotiate a European intervention agreement. Doubly delicate!

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Horn of Africa Maritime Capacity Building Mission (EUMAR HOA)

Work started over a year ago and has resumed in the various working groups. While the mission is fairly simple, without any real risk, and is essential given the urgency of taking action on piracy, as was recently recalled by Jack Lang's report to the UN, there are still some political reservations to overcome (the famous " value"). The experts on the file, however, want to move forward and the COPS ambassadors have recently set an ambitious timetable. The objective is to reach a decision at the meeting of the Ministers of Defense in May. An exploratory mission is going to the field in Yemen and Djibouti. And a strategic military options paper (MSO) is expected for March, the options would be chosen in April, and an Initial Military Instruction (IMD) at the beginning of May 2011, to see the Conops and the OpPlan, necessary prerequisites for the launch of the mission, approved in May. This mission would last two years.

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Judicial Capacity Building Mission in Somalia (EUJUST Somalia)

For those who have followed the piracy affair from the beginning, this option had been put on the table, more than a year ago also, at the same time as the project to train Somali soldiers. It resurfaced in a more precise way in the options paper that the European Union prepared to improve the prosecution of pirates, in Somalia itself. The objective is to help set up courts dedicated to piracy and, at the same time, to strengthen the rule of law in the different parts of Somalia. This mission could be limited to legal expertise or, be broader, going as far as assistance in judgments (especially for a court with an international component) and also include a training component for Somali judges, or even an "equipment" component. It could include different legal professions: magistrates, prosecutors, clerks.

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Other actions

To this, we must add two action projects which do not fall strictly (at least currently) into the classic missions of Common Defense but correspond to the new global approach desired by the Treaty of Lisbon in terms of European foreign policy.

European action in Ivory Coast

This is not, a priori, a mission of the PeSDC as such. But a request from the United Nations, transmitted by France to Cathy Ashton, which must be responded to. The idea of ​​a European force within the United Nations force (like the French Licorne force) or, at a minimum, of close coordination of the European response to this request, to like what was done in Lebanon for the UNIFIL 2 mission, must be studied.

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A European plan in the Sahel

With the kidnapping and death of several European hostages in this region between Niger, Mali and Mauritania, the need for a comprehensive European Union plan including a "security" and a "development" component is becoming urgent. The High Representative had promised a comprehensive plan for early January. This plan has been delayed a little. The PSC should examine its broad outlines in early February. And the Foreign Affairs Ministers will endorse it at their February meeting (21 February). In addition to its obvious operational interest, this plan also has a symbolic and political virtue. It will be the first "real" new action presented by the High Representative since taking office. And its content on the borders of defence or internal affairs missions, including a "development" or even humanitarian component, must reflect the EU's new "comprehensive" approach.

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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