Observatory on European defence, December 2012

IN THE SPOTLIGHT : DECEMBER 10

EU APPROVES CRISIS MANAGEMENT CONCEPT FOR CSDP MISSION IN MALI
The Council has approved the Crisis Management Concept for a CSDP military mission to provide military training and advice to the Malian Armed Forces. This mission is an essential element in the EU’s comprehensive approach as elaborated in the Strategy for Security and Development in the Sahel. The EU Training Mission in Mali aims to improve the functioning and operational effectiveness of the Malian Armed Forces, under civilian control, and to contribute to their respect for the rule of law and international standards of conduct. Initially, the mission's mandate is to last 15 months. It is planned to deploy around 200 instructors, as well as mission support staff and a force protection.

DECEMBER 3 – 4 – 18
NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR ALTHEA, EULEX KOSOVO AND ATALANTA
The EU Political and Security Committee has decided to appoint Major-General Dieter Heidecker (Austria) as Force Commander for operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He replaces Major-General Robert Brieger, who had been in the position since December 2011.
Bernd Borchardt (Germany) has been appointed new Head of Mission for the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX Kosovo. The aim of the mission is to assist and support the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area, with a specific focus on the judiciary. Borchardt will take up his duties on 1 February 2013, succeeding Xavier Bout de Marnhac, who had been in the position since 15 October 2010.
Finally, the EU Council has appointed the Rear Admiral Robert Tarrant of the UK Royal Navy as new commander for the EU Naval Force Somalia (Operation Atalanta), which aims to prevent piracy and armed robbery off the coast of Somalia and in the Indian Ocean. Tarrant succeeds Rear Admiral Duncan Potts, who has commanded the EU’s counter-piracy mission since 15 June 2011.

DECEMBER 13
MOLDOVA TAKES PART IN THE EU CRISIS MANAGAMENT
Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vladimir Filat, Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, have signed a framework agreement for the participation of Moldova in EU crisis management operations. Negotiations were launched in 2012 and they followed Moldova’s expression of interest in intensifying dialogue and training cooperation with the EU in the area of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

DECEMBER 21
NATO ALLIES AGREE ON LOCATION PATRIOT MISSILES IN TURKEY
The three NATO Allies – Germany, the Netherlands and the United States – have agreed on the locations of Patriot missiles in Turkey. The missiles’ batteries, two for each country, will be deployed to the Syrian border, at Kahramanmaras, Adana e Gaziantep.