Observatory on European defence, May 2003

2-3 May 2003 
Foreign Ministers Informal Council - Iraq, Transatlantic Relations, EU Strategic Concept
The Foreign Ministers of the EU met informally at Rhodes and Kastellorizo. 
At the centre of the discussion was the role of the European Union in the post-war phase in Iraq. A variety of views among the Ministers emerged, but the European governments adopted a favourable line toward the inclusion of a strong role for the United Nations. At the same time, several countries (among whom, apart from the United Kingdom, there are Poland, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands) had announced their own participation as part of a stabilising force in Iraq. 
The four countries (Belgium, France, Germany, and Luxembourg) which met on the 29 of April to study in depth the problem areas of the European defence had presented and discussed the results of their meeting with their other colleagues. The two aspects of the conference “of the four” which aroused greater perplexities regard the proposal of instituting a European command separate from NATO and adopting a solidarity clause. 
Finally, the Ministers requested that High Representative Solana prepare for the Council of General Affairs and the European Council to be held on 20 June a document defining the strategic concept of the European Union. The document will include an analysis on the security scenario and the prospects of the transatlantic relationship.

19 May 2003 
EU Defence Ministers - Declaration on Capabilities and ECAP
The Ministers of Defence of the Union gathered to discuss the developments of initiatives on military capabilities and armaments policies. 
According to the adopted “Declaration on the military capabilities of the EU”, the Union is officially in a position to carry out field operations of all the Petersberg missions, albeit with some limitations. 
For the purpose of filling remaining operating gaps, as evidenced by the relations of the 19 working groups from the first phase of the European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) on 1 May, the second phase of development has been launched, with the establishment of ten groups responsible for the implementation of solutions in some key sectors (such as unmanned airplanes, defence against unconventional attacks, strategic transport, special forces, etc.). 
The process of acquisition of these further capabilities would have to be favoured by the institution at the intergovernmental level of a European Armaments Agency. 
Some Ministers have supported the proposal to exempt some defence budget increases from the calculation of the Pact of Stability criteria; the issue has not obtained unanimous approval. 
Moreover, the new catalogue of military capabilities (Helsinki 2003) has been adopted.

19-20 May 20003 
General Affairs/External Relations Council - Crisis Management, Capabilities, Armaments
The General Affairs/External Relations Council gathered in Brussels to discuss the progress of the Union’s ability to manage international crisis, after having reached permanent agreements with NATO and the beginning of the first EU missions in Bosnia and Macedonia (FYROM). 
As far as concerns the development of the military capabilities of the Union, the Council adopted the Declaration of the Ministers of the Defense of the 19 May. 
The Council declared itself in favour of the development of a European intergovernmental agency for the development of capabilities, equipped with adequate resources and supporting the reform of the defence industry, as well as the coordination in the field of research and development. 
Italian General Rolando Mosca Moschini was formally nominated as President of the Military Committee (EUMC) for three years beginning 9 September 2004, following the unanimous indication from the Committee which gathered on 7 May.