Observatory on European defence, June 2014

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: 24 JUNE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION: NEW ROADMAP TO ENHANCE THE EUROPEAN DEFENCE AND SECURITY SECTOR
The roadmap published by the European Commission has proposed several actions to enforce proposals arisen from the EC Communication (July 2013) and to achieve goals recommended by the European Council Conclusions of December 2013. These actions include: the completion of the Single Market of Security and Defence; promotion a more competitive defence industry to foster the development of research programs in the field of dual-use products and technologies; the strengthening of the international dimension of the European industry and the elaboration of a new 'Preparatory Action' to test the added value of an EU contribution to defence-related research for the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

4 JUNE
MANDATE OF NATO’S MISSION OCEAN SHIELD EXTENDED
NATO Defence Ministers have decided to extend NATO’s counter-piracy operation Ocean Shield until the end of 2016. The scope of the mission is to contribute to international efforts to fight maritime piracy and to help build adequate counter-piracy capacity of regional navies. By working closely with other naval forces patrolling the Indian Ocean including US-led maritime forces and EU naval forces, Operation Ocean Shield has helped to significantly reduce pirate activity in the Horn of Africa since August 2009. Ships from Spain, Italy and Turkey are currently part of the NATO fleet which operates within an area greater than 2 million square miles.

5 JUNE
THREE NEW HEAD OF DELEGATION APPOINTED TO GUINEA (CONAKRY), MALAWI E BANGLADESH AND NEW DIRECTOR OF CIVILIAN PLANNING AND CONDUCT CAPABILITY APPOINTED
The High Representative Catherine Ashton has announced the appointment of three new Heads of EU Delegation to Guinea, Malawi and Bangladesh and of the new Director of the CPCC.
The new Head of Delegation to Guinea (Conakry) is Gerardus Gielen, currently in Brussels heading the Commission Unit responsible for Planning and Horizontal Coordination of cooperation with the ACP countries. During his career with the European institutions he has worked within the Delegations in Burkina Faso, Benin and Guinea-Bissau.
Marchel Gerrmann is the new Head of Delegation to Malawi. Originally from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he is currently serving as Head of the EU Delegation to Eritrea. During his national diplomatic service he acquired a background in African issues and development cooperation, spending 4 years as Deputy Ambassador at the Dutch Embassy Zimbabwe.
The French Pierre Mayaudon has been appointed Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh. Mr Mayaudon has an extensive diplomatic and defence background, acquired by serving in the French administration. During his career he served as Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Pakistan and also as Deputy Director within the Ministry of Defence. Moreover, among his appointments arise diplomatic postings in Singapore and as Ambassador to Vanuatu. After a senior level career in the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Kennet Deane has been appointed new Director of Civilian Planning and Conduct capability (CPCC). Mr. Deane has served in international policing missions in Iraq and Afghanistan including as Deputy Head of the EUPOL Mission in Afghanistan and as Head of EU Civilian Operations within CPCC. He is currently the Head of the EU Police Mission for the Palestinian territories (EUPOL COPPS).

12 JUNE
NEW SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND THE CRISIS IN GEORGIA
Following the proposal of Catherine Ashton, Member States have approved the appointment of Herbert Salber as new Special Representative for the Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia. While waiting for the official appointment by the Council, Ambassador Salber will co-chair and participate on behalf of the EU in the Geneva International Discussions on the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia. Following a senior level career in the German Foreign Service, which included postings in Belgrade, Vienna and Moscow, Mr. Salber served inter alia as Head of the OSCE Centre in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and as Director of the OSCE's Conflict Prevention Centre.

12 JUNE
EULEX KOSOVO: MANDATE EXTENDED UNTIL THE END OF 2016
Following an exchange of letters between the Kosovar President Atifete Jahjaga and Catherine Ashton, the mandate of the EULEX Mission has been extended until 14 June 2016. In the next two years, the mission will accelerate the handover of its activities to local institutions and other EU actors. EULEX will focus on capacity building throughout Kosovo and security and the implementation of agreements reached in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue. Recognizing the development of local institutions, the mission will start to phase out its executive functions in the justice sector but will keep mentoring and advising activities until the completion of the transition phase envisaged for June 2016.

24 JUNE
EUROPEAN SECURITY MARITIME STRATEGY APPROVED
Aimed at securing the EU’s maritime security interests, the new Maritime Security Strategy has been approved by the Council. Its objective is provide an adequate framework to order enable the EU to tackle threats in the global maritime domain in an efficient and comprehensive way, such as: cross-border and organised crime, threats to freedom of navigation, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or environmental risks. The adoption of this strategy - one of the Hellenic Presidency key priorities - will help not only to better promote European maritime security, but according to Ms Ashton it represents a step forward for the EU in assuming its global responsibilities.

24 JUNE
EU: DECISION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOLIDARITY CLAUSE ADOPTED
With the adoption of decision n. 2014/415/UE the Council has pointed out the rules and procedures for the implementation of the solidarity clause (article 222 TFEU) to assist a member state being the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. While relying on existing instruments and structures, the decision is aimed at providing a close cooperation of all relevant actors at member state and EU level for a rapid, effective and coherent response. The decision also provides for the activation of the Integrated Political Crisis Response arrangements (IPCR), a mechanism approved in June 2013 by the Council which should guarantee a rapid involvement of the political authorities across the EU. Through this mechanism the Council can ensure the strategic direction of the response and take appropriate action to the benefit of the Member State affected.