Observatory on European defence, May 2006

15 May 2006
EU General Affairs and External Relations Council - ESDP Missions: Iraq, Darfur
Ministers of Foreign Affairs discussed the evolution of the ESDP missions in Iraq and Darfur. 
The Council declared the EU's willingness to extend the ongoing integrated Rule of Law mission (EUJUST LEX) in Irak until July 2006, if the Iraqi authorities so require. The Commission intends to discuss with the new government inaugurated on 20 May how to implement actions previously announced: an assistance package of 200 million euros for 2006, the conclusion of cooperation and trade agreements and the opening of an EU delegation in Baghdad. 
Following the signature, on 5 May in Abuja, of the peace agreements between the Sudanese government and the main rebel groups, the EU confirmed its willingness to continue to support the African Union (AU) mission AMIS II until 30 September 2006 and contribute to planning the transition of AMIS II into a UN mission (by 30 September 2006). 
In order to favor implementation of the agreements, the Commission announced an allocation of 100 million euros for humanitarian aid, in addition to the approximately 400 million already spent since the beginning of the crisis.

15 May 2006
General Affairs and External Relations Council, EU Defence Ministers - Capabilities, Civil-military Coordination, Civil Protection
The EU Defence Ministers attended the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) discussing ESDP issues. 
The Council took note the conclusions of the conference of early May on Battlegroup coordination: it approved the schedule until 2012 and the EU's capacity to launch simultaneously two Battlegroup-size rapid intervention operations as of January 2007. 
The Council analysed the six-monthly progress report on military capabilities and in particular the “Capability Improvement Chart I/2006”, a detailed document on progress and shortcomings in the process of developing EU capabilities as set down by the 2010 Headline Goal, characterized by a qualitative approach to capabilities. 
Advancements were recorded with respect to strategic airlift, in particular thanks to the implementation of the SALIS programme (Strategic Airlift Interim Solution), an interim solution in which 14 EU member states plus Canada and Norway participate. 
The High Representative for CFSP Solana submitted a proposal on the EU response to crisis and emergencies also related to natural catastrophes. The guidelines, supported by the Council, focus on coordination, rapidness and deployability. In particular he suggested setting up a mechanism at EU level for systematic identification of transport capabilities, also military, made available by member states and coordination . 
The Council took note of a “Framework Paper” submitted by the EU Political and Security Committee (COPS) for efficient civil-military coordination of assets available to the EU for crisis management operations. Several proposals on coordination of Civil Protection forces were analyzed, including establishing a European force named “Europe Aid” with an operational center based in Brussels managed by the Commission, entrusting the Civil Protection and the Commission DG Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) to a single Commissioner and creating a “Civil Security Council” - encompassing the EU Council President, the Commission President, the High Representative and the Director-General of the EU Military Staff - tasked with monitoring and warning. 
The need for coordination became evident also after the violent earthquake which hit the Indonesian island of Java on 27 May and in which emergency operations involved the EU Presidency, ECHO, the Commission Civil Protection Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC), the EU Joint Situation Centre (SITCEN) and the civ-mil cell within the EU Military Staff.

15 May 2006
European Defence Agency - Research, European Defence Market
Alongside the General Affairs and External Relations Council, the European Defence Agency (EDA) Steering Board met to discuss the modalities for the financing and management of research projects carried out collaboratively.
The rules foreseen, given the reservations of some states, depart from the idea put forward the beginning of the year by High Representative Solana of creating a common fund and move towards voluntary participation. The management committee of a project will include only the financing states with a voting right proportioned to participation in the programme. 
The funding problem was also analyzed in an EDA document issued on 29 May on the defence budgets of the member states. While overall expenditure has increased with respect to 2005, the percentage dedicated to Research and Technology (R&T) in 2006 still remains meager (1.25% of the 180 Billion euros) of which only 12.3% dedicated to non-national projects. 
Moreover Ministers approved a last requirement for the entry into force of the Code of Conduct on defence procurement, adopted by the Agency last November: a Code of Best Practice in the Supply Chain, aimed at making the market more open for subcontractors. 
The deadline for the adhesion of member States to the Code of Conduct expired on 19 May. The Code will enter into force on 1 July without, for the moment, the participation of Spain, Hungary and Denmark. 
The Code, voluntary and not legally binding, should contribute to introducing some competition in the European military acquisition market, normally exempt from common market rules through the exception provided by art. 296 TEC. It will cover those contracts to which, given their strategic value, the exception of art. 296 TEC applies, and which are therefore exempted fron common market rules, practically establishing systematic information among partners on national invitations to tender.

May 2006
EU, US - Non Proliferation, Iran
The meeting of 8 May of Foreign Ministers from 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, ended without reaching a common position on the Iranian issue, because of opposition by Russia and China to a resolution possibly mentioning Chapter VII of the UN Charter , which could involve sanctions. 
Therefore, the EU-3 (France, Germany, United Kingdom and High Representative Solana) was tasked to draft a package of incentives and sanctions aimed at freezing Iranian uranium enrichment activities. 
On 31 May, the US declared its availability to negotiate directly with Iran alongside the EU-3, as soon as Teheran suspends the above-mentioned activities completely and in a verifiable manner.