Observatory on European defence, February 2002

4-5 February 2002
Meeting of the Presidents of Defence Commissions of EU Countries – Armament Policy
The Presidents of the Defence Commissions of EU countries’ national parliaments, the European Parliament (EP) and the WEU Assembly met in Madrid.
Discussion centred on the European armament policy and the prospect of a common market, integrated on both the demand (with the creation of a single European Armament Agency) and supply side (also thanks to the Framework Agreement).
It has been stressed that defence industrial policy is part of ESDP and should serve its purposes.

18-19 February 2002
General Affairs Council – ESDP Operations
The EU General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels took the decision to deploy for the first time the European International Police Force in Bosnia Herzegovina.
The EUPM (EU Police Mission) will take over from the present UN International Police Force (IPTF) and will begin in 2003; about 500 men will be deployed to keep the area stable and train the local police force. The cost is estimated at 38 million Euro per year to 2005.
The Council also discussed possible deployment of a European military force in Macedonia, as a follow-up to the present peacekeeping force led by NATO. The NATO mandate will expire in June and the European Union could deploy the Rapid Reaction Force for the first time; the force was declared partially operational last December in Laeken.

As stated by the Spanish Presidency, employment of the new police force is probably an historic moment for the Union.
Even if the mission’s profile is rather low, the mission has great value, since it is the first test of   the EU political will and capability to intervene as a relevant player in the international arena.
In the debate on the deployment of an EU military force in Macedonia, some contrast emerged with the Atlantic Alliance, showing the need for a permanent agreement between the two organisations (this agreement is still blocked by the dispute between Greece and Turkey).
Moreover, there are also disagreements within European countries; in particular, the British Defence Ministry declared its pessimism about Europe’s real capability to carry out this mission.
The military mission in Macedonia could be an important test-bed of the political and military credibility of the EU in the international arena.

28 February 2002
EU Chiefs of Staff Meeting – Capabilities Working Groups
EU Chiefs of Defence Staff met in Brussels to discuss the development of European military capabilities and the actions required to improve them.
Eleven working groups were formed. Each group is led by one or more countries and is focused on different capabilities such as: unmanned air vehicles, attack helicopters, combat search and rescue means, theatre missile defences, protection from weapons of mass destruction, air and sea strategic lift, communications, command and intelligence.
Moreover, preparation of the first ESDP military exercise (to be held in May) is under way.