EUFOR RCA mired in a budgetary drama (UPDATE)
(BRUSSELS2) On 20 December last, the "28" Heads of State and Government gave the order to "move quickly", to respond quickly with a military peacekeeping operation to the worsening of the crisis in Central African Republic. Where are we today?
We are making progress... but slowly
A first decision was thus adopted on January 20 (the force generation concept for EUFOR RCA), a second on February 10 (the framework decision). Almost two months after the decision of the European Council, we are not yet in the deployment of forces on the ground. There are still at least two last steps to go through: the adoption of the operation plan (OpPlan), and the decision to launch before seeing the forces on the ground. Without forgetting the generation of forces which will have to take place without a hitch and the respect of consultations or parliamentary authorizations in each country.
A loss of ambition
The impulse of the "Chiefs" seems to have lost its power. Result: the operation will not be deployed before the beginning of March (if all goes well!). And what is called Full Operational Capability - in other words all the forces present on the ground - will not be reached before the end of May (3 months of deployment are planned). That is to say more than six months, after the first plans (rejected). On a European scale, it is rather fast, compared to certain missions which took nearly a year to emerge. In the diplomatic camera of working rooms, it can therefore be reassuring. In the field, this pseudo-speed might not be considered as efficient. Especially since it is accompanied by a stunting of ambitions: instead of 1000 men, it will be 500; instead of deploying in Bangui as in the West (where certain abuses are taking place), it will only be in Bangui or to accompany certain humanitarian convoys. And on the common budget side, it's rather miserable (contrary to what François Hollande had committed to).
A fiscal treachery
The budget originally planned was almost 40 million euros. A misery compared to what is committed elsewhere at the level of the European Union. It has been, over the meetings, razed, and finally reduced to less than 26 million euros. No more reimbursement of strategic transport (Europe-RCA) by the common budget. Too expensive... Several countries — starting with the "dear" British allies (*) and other countries, stingy, concerned about their small economies (Austria for example) — have considered - for excellent procedural reasons - that it was better to remain modest. No later than last Tuesday, during a difficult meeting of budget experts, they still refused to add 3,7 million euros to the pot... to build barracks for the military. Too expensive again!
Comment: Between being present quickly, doing the job, and the sacrosanct procedures, some Europeans seem to have chosen: it will be "the procedures"! and so much the worse for a few hundred more deaths... How would Victoria have said, f ... !
(*) Updated. Britons who did not hesitate to play a double game. In London, to the deputies of the House of Commons, the Minister in charge of European Affairs, David Lidington affirmed, again, that the operation would be endowed with a budget of 40 million euros thus enabling it to advance a British contribution of 5,8 million euros. At the same time, its representative in Brussels defended a lower budget, in fact a national contribution of 3,8 million euros. Sacred drop
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