Observatory on European defence, March 2013

IN THE SPOTLIGHT : MARCH 28
NATO APPOINTS NEW SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER EUROPE
The North Atlantic Council has nominated General Philip M. Breedlove as Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR). General Breedlove will replace Admiral James G. Stavridis. Currently he is serving as Commander, United States Air Force Africa and Director of Joint Air Power Competence Center (JAPCC).

MARCH 6
FIRST EUROPEAN THEATER MISSILE INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM ACHIEVES NATO INTEROPERABILITY
NATO has announced that its theater defensive missile system and the European-made one has achieved interoperability. The French/Italian SAMPT/T surface-to-air missile system has been successfully implemented and destroyed a theater ballistic missile target at the French Firing Range in Biscarrosse. The European-made interceptor has proved its capacity to work with NATO’s Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) command and control system. The SAMP/T is already in operations with the French Air Force and the Italian Army in an air defence role and is planned to reach its operational capability in 2013.

MARCH 6
THE EU-INTERPOL INAUGURATES A PROJECT FOR LIBYAN BORDER SECURITY
The European Union, in collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the Libyan officials, has inaugurated a new passport control capacity at Tripoli International Airport. Under the European Commission’s Instrument for Stability (IfS), €2.2 million are allocated, together with other project of cooperation (€10 million) between the European Union and Libya, launched in January.

MARCH 8
THE EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE NOMINATES NEW HEADS OF THE UE DELEGATIONS IN CANADA, INDONESIA, ISRAEL AND MEXICO
The High Representative of the Union for the Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, has nominated new Heads of the EU Delegations in Canada, Indonesia, Israel and Mexico, according to the External Action Service (EEAS) system. In more details:
CANADA: Marie-Anne Coninsx, currently Head of the EU Delegation to Mexico, previously worked for the European Commission in Geneva, New York and Brussels as Head of Unit for the Latin America;
INDONESIA: Olof Skoog, Permanent Chair of the Political and Security Committee (PSC), was Swedish Ambassador to the PSC, Swedish Ambassador to Colombia, Venezuela, Panama and Ecuador;
ISRAEL: Lars Faaborg-Andersen, Ambassador of Denmark to the PSC, previously served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations in New York and Head of the Department for the Middle East, North Africa and Central and South America in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
MESSICO: Andrew Standley, Head of the EU Delegation in Israel, was Head of the Unit in the European Commission and served as Head of the Delegation in Bolivia.

MARCH 11
THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL ADOPTS THE REVIEWED VERSION OF THE COMMON MILITARY LIST OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
The European Council has approved the annual update of the Common Military List of the EU. The Common Military List identifies equipment covered by Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment. The updated version replaces the Common Military List of the European Union that was adopted by the Council on February 27, 2012.

MARCH 18
THE EU APPOINTS NEW EU SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN SAHEL
The European Union has appointed Michel Reveyrand-de Menthon as new EU Special Representative in Sahel, with an initial mandate of one year. Ambassador Reveyrand-de Menthon is a senior French diplomat with more than 20 years of professional experience. Recently, he has served as Ambassadors of France to Mali and to Chad and has matured an high competence on cooperation with and in Africa.

MARCH 19
THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL APPROVES NEW SUPPORT TO SECURITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOMALIA
The European Council has approved the allocation of additional €33 million for the African Union Mission In Somalia (AMISOM). Thanks to the European funds (€444 million since 2007) AMISON can pursue its strategy, including the outpost of 17.731 troops, according to NATO decisions. The European economic aids will cover both the military and police costs and those concerning the civil and operational component, whose heartquarter is in Nairobi, Kenya.