Defense capabilities: the Agency goes concrete
(BRUXELLES2) Pooling and sharing, a fine project whose contours have until now been caressed in a literary way. The meeting of the board of directors of the European Defense Agency (EDA) - in ministerial format - which is taking place this afternoon was an opportunity to get down to business and to test the various ministers of their willingness to commit to projects. The challenge of this Council, as explained by Claude-France Arnoult, the executive director of the Agency, in an interview with B2, is " to have commitments from member states on specific projects ". We are no longer in words but in concrete actions, to find capacities that are lacking in our operations. " We have a " interest probably more marked today than yesterday due to budget constraints. Eleven projects were selected, such as support for tankers, pilot training, intelligence, satellites, medical support, etc. (see forthcoming paper).
Fairly rapid maturation at the European pace
It is the result of an evolution, of a fairly rapid maturation all in all on a European scale, especially in a sensitive sector such as Defence. " We went from a general concept (at the informal Ghent) to a work mandate in May. We then consulted with member states, used the knowledge and reports of high-level experts who (visited capitals) and worked confidentially. Then the agency carried out an internal analysis and finally retained, by mutual agreement with the countries concerned, the projects which seemed ripe to us. » Not all countries will participate in all projects. This is the principle of "free choice": each country chooses from the list of selected projects, those it wants to follow and support, or even lead. On most projects, the principle of a pilot State has been adopted. But the fact that there is not yet for some does not drop the project ". It is enough that there are countries which are voluntary to lead it.
A smart selection
What is interesting is the way in which this selection was made. At NATO, one could almost say that it is a "smart selection". “These may not be dream projects but concrete projects. We have selected projects on which the States are ready to commit (financially, humanly) and to implement, projects which make it possible to save money », says C.-F. Arnold. These projects will not require major initial investment. " What could have been an obstacle today ". But they will “allow operating savings in the long term. That's what we're betting on." Many of them are in fact part of a longer process: an immediate operational need is identified - such as satellite communication services, for example - then a longer-term, heavier need must be studied - for example to prepare the future generation of satellites.
Europe must show that it takes its share of the burden
In this awareness, and the search for the concrete, the last words of Gates and the first of Panetta, the former and current US Secretary of State for Defense played a role. " It's undeniable. But these are not just words again. The United States has embarked on a process of budget cuts. And they won't stop it for us. “specifies CF-Arnould” To help them, we have to show them that we are taking our share of the additional burden in European defense ". It will be helpful" also to demonstrate to Congress the need to maintain an effort on Europe and to maintain an interest in Europe while all eyes, on the American side, are turning towards Asia.
Americans interested in the agency's work
The Americans want to participate actively in the activities of the Agency. They could thus be associated, or rather “invited” to certain meetings of a technical nature. At the Agency, we consider it interesting to develop a special relationship with them, in particular on the markets and their regulation. Thus the Americans should be present at the next committee of armament directors, in the spring. Interesting meeting since the United States is in the process of revising its Altar system.
No duplication with NATO
Importantly, and on which most Defense Ministers have insisted, the projects of the European Defense Agency are not the same as those brought to NATO. There too the discussion has evolved, a few months ago, some were wondering why do at EU level what we could do in NATO. Today the countries require good cooperation between our two organisations. And this is a point on which we are very attentive ". And to clarify: What will be done at the Agency will not be done at NATO. And vice versa. We will ensure that the projects we carry out benefit from the work already undertaken at NATO ". This is the case, for example, for the medical support project, which will benefit from the process initiated at NATO on the standardization of the various modules, in particular to ensure that the various modules are interchangeable.
Claude-France Arnould will not admit it. An elegant gesture, no doubt. Reality forces us to say - as a national expert confided to us - that the NATO machine is a little heavier and slower to get going. And, it is a paradox, it is less advanced in the various "pooling and sharing" projects than the European Defense Agency. Moreover, it is not automatically used to mixing civil and military interests like the EU, or to combining capabilities, industry and regulation. The Agency benefits from the multi-competence of the EU which has a hand in matters of trade, the single market, the opening of markets. It should also be added that the projects adopted today are rather precise, quick to set up and to generate savings or to increase efficiency in the short or medium term, whereas NATO sometimes works on larger-scale projects which require more investment.