Observatory on European defence, December 2013

IN THE SPOTLIGHT : DECEMBER 19-20
CONCLUSIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL
The European Council has strongly underlined the importance of defence as a source of security both for EU-citizens and neighboring States. The meeting has focused on three main issues. As for the EU CSDP, the European Council has stressed to increased synergies between CSDP and Freedom/Security/Justice actors to tackle horizontal issues such as illegal migration, organized crime and terrorism. The High Representative will propose a EU Cyber Defence Policy Framework as well as an EU Maritime Security Strategy. In addition, the European has Council analyzed the issue of EU military capabilities, by supporting four main activities: (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System – RPAS), air refueling, new generation of satellite communications and finally a roadmap for training and exercises dealing with cyber security. The High Representative and the European Defence Agency (EDA) will jointly present some guidelines to support a stronger and more comprehensive cooperation among Member States by the end of 2014. Finally, the European Council has dealt with the defence industry, acknowledging the importance of the European Defence Technological Industrial Base (EDTIB) as well as of a more integrated, thus competitive EU defence market. The EU Commission, together with EDA, will find new solutions to ensure stronger inter-operability among the armed forces as well as a more efficient use of military resources by mid 2014. Furthermore, together with the member states, they will elaborate a roadmap for the creation of a European regime for the “security of supply”.

DECEMBER 3
NATO FOREIGN MINISTERS IDENTIFY NEW PRIORITIES FOR NEXT NATO SUMMIT
NATO Foreign Ministers have discussed the priorities which will be examined during the next NATO Summit in September 2014 in the United Kingdom. They have reaffirmed the need for the Alliance to invest in new technologies and military capabilities. NATO will develop new stronger forms of cooperation as well as regular consultations with other actors, in order to effectively react against future threats for security. In this sense, the Ministers have underlined the need to reinvigorate transatlantic relations and to open a new chapter in the strategy for Afghanistan, in order to increase the level of regional security, by involving as many actors as possible. The High Representative, Catherine Ashton, has taken part of the discussion as the representative of the EU.

DECEMBER 4
NATO-RUSSIA COUNCIL MEETING
The NATO-Russia Council (NRC) has decided to launch a project for the disposal of obsolete and dangerous military material in the Kaliningrad region. The total cost of the project is estimated at around €50 million and it is estimated to run five years. The NRC has also analyzed some key issues of international security, precisely those linked to Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. In this sense, the NRC officially supports the work of the Joint United Nations Organizations for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) mission which is overseeing the destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpiles and production facilities. Finally, the NRC also agreed an ambitious programme of joint cooperation activities for 2014. It will include new areas of cooperation, notably mine disposal in Afghanistan and the fight against roadside bombs more broadly, together with the “traditional” ones (fight against narcotics, terrorism and piracy).

DECEMBER 11
NATO SECRETARY GENERAL’S MANDATE EXTENDED
The North Atlantic Council has decided to extend the Secretary General’s mandate to enable him to prepare and preside the next NATO Summit which will take place in Wales on 4-5 September 2014. Moreover, on 3 December 2013, the Danish Government agreed to extend General Knud Bartels as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee until mid-2015.

DECEMBER 13
SIGNING OF EDA-SERBIA ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT
The High Representative, Catherine Ashton, has signed an agreement with the Serbian Minister of Defence, Nebojša Rodić. The Administrative Arrangement formalizes the relationship between EDA and Serbia, enabling Serbia’s potential participation in EDA’s projects and programmes. Cooperative areas remain to be further defined, but Research & Technology and training are examples of possible cooperative areas.

DECEMBER 13
THE EU ANNOUNCES NEW FUNDS TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY IN AFRICA
The EU has confirmed that it will provide €12.5 million through the African Peace Facility to improve the management of African-led peace support operations. These funds will concretely support the establishment of a “Command, Control, Communication and Information System” (C3IS) over a period of 2 years. This system will provide security for data, as well as satellite communication services between the African Union, sub-regional organizations and peace-keeping missions. The new EU funds will contribute to better equipping African regional organizations in the area of peace of security. The programme is the result of a work conducted jointly by the EU and the African Union, based on a number of exercises and training activities conducted since 2008 to make the African Standby Force operational - which is the main operational tool of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

DECEMBER 18
EDA ASSISTS DUAL-USE PROJECTS TO ACCESS FUNDING
The EDA, together with the European Commission, has decided to support industries and institutes active in dual-use research to access European Structural Funds (ESF), with special focus on SMEs. Recently, seven projects (from Bulgaria, Poland, Germany, Portugal, France, UK and Spain) have been selected and will be assisted in the following months in order to get adequate financing, using the current or the next financial framework 2014-2020. EDA and the EC aim not only at coordinating their efforts in the fields of defence and security but also at promoting research and innovation, within the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). After an experimental phase in 2013, EDA will promote a more systematic approach in support of Member States, taking advantage of the planning period 2014-2020. The aim of EDA Action Plan for SMEs is to ensure that “despite budget constraints, key and industrial priorities are developed and maintained in Europe, through new synergies for civil-military research”.

DECEMBER 28
THE EU COUNCIL IMPOSED EMBARGO AGAINST THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The EU Council has decided to give full effect to UN Security Council Resolution 2127/2013 to ban the export of armaments and related material to the Central African Republic. The prohibitions also covers the provision of financial and technical assistance.