Cathy Ashton thinks of studying a PeSDC humanitarian support operation in Libya… (Maj)
« We must be ready to increase our assistance to the Libyan population itself. (...) I have asked my services to study, on the basis of careful planning, a possible commitment of the PeSDC (Europe of Defense) to support the current evacuation and humanitarian efforts ". Here is what Catherine Ashton, the EU's chief diplomat, just announced to the European Parliament in Strasbourg today (Wednesday 9 March), before adding: " As always with PeSDC options, they should be analyzed with caution. And we will need appropriate answers on the question of mandate, resources and clear objectives ". The High Representative refused to go further.
Maritime surveillance and SSR mission
According to information communicated to 'B2' by a high-ranking European diplomat, a whole range of options can also be considered within this framework of "prudent planning", in particular reinforced maritime surveillance "if it was necessary" (but not the No fly zone option mentioned "in other institutions" - NB: NATO and the Arab League). "We also want to consider the post-crisis hypotheses with means of assistance to the reform of the security sector (SSR) to build within the framework of a State of law of new security instruments and institutions. »
Cathy, One foot in the EU, one foot in NATO
The exceptional Council of Foreign Ministers on Thursday (10 March) has been planned to allow the High Representative to attend the meeting of NATO Defense Ministers where she will arrive at 14 p.m. to stay until 16 p.m. . His presence at the EU Foreign Affairs Council will take place from 30:11 a.m. to 30:13 p.m. Half an hour longer at NATO than at the EU. Find the mistake !
For Cathy Ashton, it is therefore clear. European defense policy is limited to humanitarian support and nothing more. And it is on the side of NATO that she believes that an appropriate response must occur for other missions. With this kind of position, retrograde, Europe would never have considered a maritime anti-piracy operation (Eunavfor), a peacekeeping operation in Chad (Eufor) or even an observation mission like EUMM in Georgia. .. Quite a setback and a breach of the mandate conferred on him.