Pooling and sharing, it's spring... (Maj2)

(BRUSSELS2) The "Defence" Council will be an opportunity for the ministers of the European Union to take stock of the "Pooling and sharing" projects (sharing and pooling, in a no doubt more concrete way than on previous occasions The observation is clear today: impossible to escape savings and pooling Now it is a question of getting to the heart of the concrete after the decision taken at the end of last November to approve 11 pooling projects (twelve projects now since the project to combat improvised explosive devices was officially presented by Spain). “Some projects have progressed well, others less so. ". It is in these terms that the European Agency was to open the debates before the Ministers of Defense (*).

Read also:

• A twelfth project for the European Defense Agency?
• Europe is beefing up its defence. 11 operational projects. List and details

Assessment of the 12 projects

What drags

Let's start with what is "dragging", or rather to use more diplomatic language, the projects that have known “little significant progress ". The next generation of satellite (a fairly heavy project at the moment led by the United Kingdom and France); Smart ammunition - Denmark preferred to bring this project to NATO; ISR will become a "flagship" project for the NATO Summit.

What advances

Other projects, on the other hand, have made good progress and should take an additional step during this council.

• Thus a declaration of intent should be signed for thefield modular hospital, a project led by Italy and involving a dozen countries. It is an interesting project, developed in total complementarity with NATO. To use industrial terminology, the Alliance standardizes and prepares the modules; the EU assembles them. Thus around a central module (resuscitation, radiography, surgery, etc.), we can add specific modules, adaptable according to the type of theater, risk and geographical area. It can be used in all kinds of missions: short or long, even civil (example: earthquake in Haiti). This project could be fully deployable in the field from 2014 with all modules “, specified an official of the Agency. " But it could be used very quickly in some modules. NB: Participate in this project 14 countries: in addition to Italy (leader), Austria, Belgium, Germany, Cyprus, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, Czech Republic.

• The project of tanker aircraft will also take an important step with a political declaration. A heavy project since it takes place in a short, medium and long term horizon until 2020. Read separate article: Europe intends to supply itself on its own

• The program ofhelicopter pilot training « works well ". A training simulator, made available in the United Kingdom, will speed up training. This program has already enabled the deployment of additional Czech and German crews, in particular, deployed in the NATO mission (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Two exercises are planned for 2012: in Portugal (July 4 to 12, Hot Blade exercise) and in Belgium (September 17 to October 5, Green Blade exercise).

• The project of maritime surveillance - led by Finland - continues on its merry way. Fifteen Member States already use it.

â € ¢ Des multimodal hubs. The agency wants to clarify the concept of multimodal military hubs - plane/train/road - on the model of civilian hubs, in order to ensure better efficiency and economy. A study will be undertaken on the agency's budget.

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The new "crisis" projects

Some projects clash in the context and deserve a look. These are “Crisis compatible” projects that are quite light in terms of investment but which can pay off. They are developed by the agency on an optional basis. They show the Defense Ministers' desire to find common solutions in the face of pressure from the Budget Ministries of the "27" (26 in fact) with which they are all confronted. Because, in fact, the ideological or strategic divisions are disappearing today between the Member States in front of the budgetary constraint which strikes all the Ministries of Defence. They often look to others for the "little tricks" that allow them to resist their national "Bercy".

"Go Green"

The observation is simple, military bases, defense installations, often have large, well-exposed spaces. Why not take advantage of the facility to equip them with solar panels. It's all beneficial for everyone. The military "pays off" their installation - the military is first. The project is green, so very trendy at the moment. In addition, it overcomes the problem posed by this type of installation; which often causes some grumbling among residents, under the Nomyby principle (not in my back yard). Several countries are interested in this concept: Germany, which is leading this project, as well as Austria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Luxembourg, Romania. A solar panel operating model will be developed. And the first project should start working on a freelance basis in Germany.

Buy better, together

The aim is to develop more effective public procurement methods: how to save money by buying together. Austria will test a pilot project for the Battlegroup in the second half of 2012 (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany) to provide the supply chain. This is the Agency will serve as the procurement structure. The goal is to be able to save about 25% or so cost explained an expert to B2. " If the experience is positive, it can be extended ».

Sale of European surpluses: Ebay Defense

Last but not least, it is the crisis project par excellence. The principle is simple: you are looking to get rid of a few dozen tanks, armored vehicles and other guns, in good condition, but which weigh down your army and your maintenance; you have not yet found a buyer or you are looking for the best bidder; the Agency can help you. 🙂 It's a kind of "ebay - Defense Equipment", making it possible to dispose of European surpluses, to cut into the fat of the armies, which often have a lot of equipment that strains its upkeep and maintenance budget, for sometimes usefulness debatable, or at least discussed.

"Save and reinvest"

This is the "top secret" project par excellence of the Ministers of Defense: How to preserve their kitty, prevent the money saved from going back to the general budget, thanks to budgetary savings, at the expense of reinvestment. A study was thus presented to the ministers during this Council, by "oral" only. Started by a British expert, carried out in five Member States (France, Germany, Italy, Poland, United Kingdom), it consists of studying the best practices for savings and reinvestments. Clearly, as one expert in defense issues put it, it is a matter of " protect from the rapacity of the national Bercys ».

(*) In fact, given the lead times for preparing the Councils and the Christmas break, between the last Council (which was at the end of November) and that of 22 March, the experts from the European Defense Agency did not have only eight effective weeks; the preparation of the Boards indeed requires the filing of all the preparation documents at least 15 days in advance. It seems like an administrative detail. But it matters.