EU crisis management structures struggling

(BRUXELLES2) The launch of the Sudan mission today, of the Eucap Nestor and Niger missions soon may leave the impression that there is a large structure preparing and managing these missions. Or at the very least that it has been reinforced. Nay! On the contrary.

Despite official declarations declaring that the European Union has an obvious role to play in civilian crisis management missions, in strengthening the rule of law, etc. the staff remained almost the same. About 70 people for the civilian crisis management command (CPCC). No more to recruit, lead, a dozen missions (9 if we take into account the closure of EUPM Bosnia) most of which are in upheaval, either because they have been thoroughly overhauled (EULEX Kosovo, etc.) or because they are starting (EUCAP Nestor, EUCAP Niger, EUAVSEC South Sudan). The strategic planning department (CMPD) is no better off. In the reorganization of the European diplomatic service, no new position has really been freed up for crisis management. “We can already consider ourselves happy if all the planned positions are already filled (NB: Which is just beginning to be the case), quipped a European diplomat.

Commentary: Here we find the gap between words and deeds. If government representatives and parliamentarians really want to develop Defense Europe, other than in words, they will have to look into this question during budgetary discussions and reassessment of the functioning of the European External Action Service ( EEAS).