Conclusions of the Defense Summit (draft): the roadmap (Updated 2)

(BRUSSELS2 - exclusive) The most important point of the "Defense" Summit - and in our opinion the most innovative even if it is not the most spectacular - will be the setting of a timetable. As those familiar with European negotiations explain, “ without this, without an appointment, commitments disappear ». After the Summit of December 19 and 20, various reports are expected during 2014 essentially, until a new meeting at the summit in June 2015. Certain commitment requests are set without date (*).

Appointments set for 2014

Central African Mission. To deal with the situation in the Central African Republic, the "28" will have to take a decision on a CSDP action, " in its two military and civil dimensions » to the Foreign Affairs Council of the 20th January 2014 (§46)

Financing of PSDC missions. There is it is necessary to examine the financial aspects of EU missions and operations, including in the context of the review of the Athena mechanism. This « without delay (rapidly in the English version)” and on the basis of a report from the High Representative (before the end of the first half of 1). (§2014)

Cyber ​​defense. A political framework (policy framework) must be developed in 2014. (proposal from the High Representative, in conjunction with the European Commission and the European Defense Agency) (§9)

Marine Safety. A strategy must be adopted proposed by June 2014 (joint proposal European Commission / High Representative), with development of an action plan. (§9)

Standardization. A roadmap for the development of industrial and defense standards must be prepared, by mid-2014 (European Commission + European Defense Agency + Member States). (§19)

Certification. A certification “approach” harmonized at the European level must be proposed to increase mutual recognition, with a report to the Council at the mi-2014. (§19)

Joint acquisitions.The mandate given to the European Commission to make proposals on a “common acquisition mechanism” by the end of 2014, as well as involving the European Investment Bank, has completely disappeared. A mandate is given (only) “to the European Defense Agency "To “examine the means by which Member States can cooperate more efficiently and more rationally in pooled procurement projects” (§14 Version Dec. 18). 

Purchasing planning. A policy framework for defense procurement planning to contribute to long-term and more systematic cooperation, by end of 2014, in close connection with the planning process within NATO (High Representative / European Defense Agency). "Coperation should be facilitated by increased transparency and information sharing of defense planning, allowing national planners and decision-makers to consider greater convergence of capability needs and timelines." (§12)

Appointments set for 2015

New Threats. It front of " global environmental changes ", a report to the Council is awaited" on challenges and opportunities » for the European Union current 2015 (High representative). (§9)

Progress report. A " progress report » on all the subjects discussed at the summit of December 19 and 20, in December 2013, must also be prepared by the three main actors (European Commission, High Representative, European Defense Agency) and discussed in the Council of Ministers, by June 2015. (§22)

• The European Council invites the Council, the Commission, the High Representative, the European Defense Agency and the Member States, within their respective spheres of competence, to take robust/determined and verifiable steps to implement the orientations set out above. The European Council will assess concrete progress on all issues in June 2015 and provide further guidance, on the basis of a report from the Council drawing on inputs from the Commission, the High Representative and the European Defense Agency.

Next summit. A next appointment will be set: in June 2015. (§22) That is, a reasonable period of time to allow the new High Representative and the new institutions set up after the 2014 elections to take possession of their new functions and start producing. Latvia will then assume the presidency of the European Union, a situation which does not modify the presidency of the European Council, now fixed, which will then be held by the successor of Herman Van Rompuy.

(commitments without date)

PSDC mission procedure. The European Commission, the High Representative and the Member States must " initiate work » “ensure that the procedures and rules applicable to civilian missions (PSDC)” offer more flexibility to the Union and enable it to accelerate the deployment of these missions” to make them more flexible and more suitable for rapid deployment.

“Crime” threats. The “28” urge Europeans to « increase synergies between the PSDC and the Justice-Liberties-Security sector »Including « to take into account certain horizontal issues such as organized crime, human trafficking humans/illegal migration and terrorism ».

Border management. CSDP support to third countries and regions to “ help them improve border management " must " progress ».

Energy security. Cooperation to face energy challenges must be “ further strengthened ».

Capability Integration. The European Council welcomes the EATC (European Air Transport Command) model, calls on Member States to continue building models of cooperation in the field of strategic transport and to explore the possibilities of developing this "EATC" model in other areas. other areas.

Tax incitations. The Council encourages the development “incentives and innovative approaches” to encourage cooperation “encourages the further development of incentives and innovative approaches for such cooperation, including by investigating non market-distorting fiscal measures in accordance with existing European law.”

Dual search. Proposals must be made to stimulate dual-use research and the establishment of a preparatory action research program on the CSDP (Commission + European Defense Agency). An assessment of how the Horizon 2020 program could benefit the defense sector must be made (European Commission). Proposals facilitating access for SMEs to defense and security markets must be made (European Commission).

Security of supply. A roadmap must be defined to establish a global security procurement regime (European Commission with Member States, High Representative and European Defense Agency)

Other endorsed diaries

To this agenda, we must add:

1. The four capability projects defined by the Defense Ministers: drones, aerial refueling tankers, satellites, cyber-defense. This includes having a “appropriate financing of R&D activities from 2014 » and to have a “ first integration of RPAS (drones) into the aeronautical system » from here 2016, as " create a user group for satellite telecommunications » en 2014. (§11)

• Drones: Europeans determined to move forward. The Male program will be launched.
• Tankers: the flagship project for European capabilities
  
• The 28 endorse Cyber ​​Defense as an EU project

2. the timetable of actions defined by the Defense Ministers in their conclusions of November 25: agenda which sometimes overlaps with that defined by the European Council (cyberdefense, maritime security), sometimes not (borders, coherent actions for CSDP missions) , or even contradict each other (e.g. on the summit planned for spring 2015).

• The conclusions of the ministers outline the “industrial” roadmap for the summit
• Conclusions in the form of a roadmap. Analysis

3. The European Commission's proposals — included in the July communication — are taken into account by the European Council which “ notes the Commission's intention to develop a roadmap, to ensure a “ rapid implementation of proposed actions (...) together with the High Representative and the European Defense Agency ». NB: if the notion of rapid implementation has been abandoned, it does not change the substance of the text. And this represents progress compared to the first project which barely mentioned the European Commission.

• The political choices behind Defense Communication (JM Barroso)
• The Commission’s “defense” communication. A call to States for more cooperation
• Europe's political power depends on defense (Michel Barnier)

(* UPDATE - article updated on 19.12.2013 with the final conclusions of the Summit and completed on 5.1.2014 in greyed out what has changed compared to the first versions, in crossed out what has been deleted. We can notice that very few things have disappeared)