With forceps, EUFOR RCA will be able to be launched

(BRUSSELS2) As our Club readers already know, the latest force generation conference, held on Friday in Brussels, enabled « endorse new contributions in terms of strategic airlift and deployment support for the EUFOR RCA operation », as C. Ashton's spokesperson confirmed earlier.

With forceps,

Based on “these significant advances and the complement provided by the framework nation (Editor's note: France), the Operation Commander, General Pontiès, recommended the launch of the operation » she specifies. There will be « a gradual rise of the system in Bangui ». « The mission will contribute to international efforts to protect populations most at risk and create conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance.” recalls the spokesperson for C. Ashton.

A very poor and very unwilling Europe

As a reminder, it was at the European summit in December that the principle of an EU military operation was decided, the High Representative having given up on deploying the EU battlegroup, London (which was on call for the 2nd half of 2013), having refused, for ideological reasons and military incapacity, to deploy it. The general concept of crisis management for the operation had been endorsed, quickly, on January 20, and the "27" (*) had decided on the framework of the operation, the following February 10, an operation carried out under the aegis of the Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter.

But then the case dragged on. Several successive force generation meetings had failed to fill the few gaps that remained: a little strategic transport, a little medical support and a few non-combat elements - engineering, medical support, aviation handling... This which represents a total of 120 people and a few million euros. To the point that, unprecedented in the annals of Europe, the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon, was obliged to remind, in writing, the European States of their commitment. (read : In the CAR, the EU has failed in its commitments (Ban Ki Moon). A singular slap in the face for the European Union and a fine admission of weakness for European countries at the time of a showdown with Russia over Ukraine

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

All the details of this generation of forces: EUFOR RCA: a very timid green light

(*) The "28" minus Denmark, which does not take part in decisions on military matters.