Observatory on European defence, November 2012

IN THE SPOTLIGHT : NOVEMBER 19

EDA ADOPTS THE CODE OF CONDUCT ON POOLING AND SHARING
EDA Defence Ministers has adopted the “Code of Conduct on Pooling & Sharing”. This comprises a series of actions to support cooperative efforts of EU Member States to develop defence capabilities. The actions herein are aimed at mainstreaming Pooling & Sharing in Member States’ planning and decision-making processes. They are to be implemented on a national and voluntary basis, in line with defence policies of Member States.

NOVEMBER 16
COUNCIL APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE EU MILITARY COMMITTEE
The Council has appointed General Patrick de Rousiers (France) as chairman of the military committee of the European Union (EUMC) for a period of three years as from 6 November 2012. General Patrick de Rousiers will replace General Håkan Syrén (Sweden), who took up office as chairman of the EUMC on 6 November 2009. The European Union Military Committee is the highest military body within the Council and it is composed of the Chiefs of Defence of the Member States.

NOVEMBER 16
EEAS-NATO EXERCISE CMX12
The European External Action Service (EEAS) has participated in the NATO exercise CMX12 that has portrayed an escalating threat from chemical, biological, and radiological proliferation events, as well as cyber-attacks affecting some EU Member States. The EEAS has provided exchanges of information with NATO at staff level on the evolving crisis situation and on the actions being fictitiously taken in support of the stricken countries. The EEAS has also provide NATO with a paper portraying an overall picture of the EU response in case of CBRN or cyber-attacks occurring in Member States.

NOVEMBER 23
A NEW APPOINTMENT IN THE EEAS
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, has appointed the diplomat Ugo Astuto as EEAS Director for Southern and Southeast Asia. Astuto was Deputy Italian Ambassador to India. His diplomatic career spans experience in the Italian Embassies in Nairobi and London as well as in the Italian Permanent Representation in Brussels.