Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Common Security and Defence Policy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

195 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the implications for the Defence Forces of the recently agreed EU military harmonisation deadline of 2010; the anticipated cost of such harmonisation; the details of the revenue generated from property divestment to date; and the amount of these revenues which will be used to underwrite improved interoperability with the EU and NATO. [25392/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

The year 2003 is an important one for the development of the European security and defence policy, as it is the target date for the realisation of the Helsinki headline goal, that is, the development of a capability to deploy within 60 days, and sustain for at least one year, up to 60,000 persons capable of carrying out Petersberg task operations, namely, crisis management operations, peace support operations and humanitarian tasks.

At the European Council meeting of 19 and 20 June 2003 held at Thessaloniki, the Council noted the progress which had been made in the field of military capabilities since the inception of the headline goal. Significantly, the Council also noted that the EU now has an operational capability across the full range of Petersberg tasks, limited and constrained by certain shortfalls.

In the relatively short period since 1999, the EU has therefore made significant progress in developing its capabilities to carry out crisis management operations. In 2003, the operational capability of the European Union was demonstrated through the launching of three ESDP operations: the EU police mission, EUPM, in Bosnia-Herzegovina; Operation CONCORDIA in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and Operation ARTEMIS in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The EU-led operations EUPM and ARTEMIS demonstrate the level of co-operation between the EU and the UN which continues to be developed and enhanced at EU level. Operation CONCORDIA represented the commencement of the implementation of EU-NATO permanent arrangements, in particular Berlin Plus, which will enhance the operational capability of the Union and provide the framework for a strategic partnership between the two organisations in the field of crisis management.

I believe that it will be important that this momentum in further developing both civil and military capabilities is maintained beyond 2003. Discussions relating to the modalities as to how this might be achieved have been taking place at EU level under the Italian Presidency. While a prospective new headline goal of 2010 has been suggested in the discussions, no agreement in this regard has yet been reached. I welcome the fact that in these discussions creative ways of improving capabilities continue to be examined. In particular, I welcome measures which may improve efficiencies, including appropriate qualitative aspects of member states contributions to the headline goal. It will be important also that lessons learned from the first EU operations, mentioned above, are included in this process.

One method of improving the qualitative aspects of the EUs ability to carry out Petersberg task operations is to improve the level of interoperability. In this regard, Ireland also participates in the Partnership for Peace planning and review process and, in common with the other EU neutrals, Ireland is using the PARP process in connection with planning for the Petersberg tasks. The scope of our involvement in PARP is focused on enhancing interoperability and familiarity with operating procedures in a multinational environment and improving the capabilities Ireland has offered in the context of the EU headline goal.

The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks which were considered surplus to military requirements. To date the sale of surplus property has generated some €58 million, with another €2 million expected by the end of the year. The money generated from these sales is being reinvested in the Defence Forces in terms of equipment and infrastructure, consistent with the policy as laid out in the White Paper on defence published in February 2000. The White Paper process has illustrated how efficiencies can be achieved from within existing resources. I do not plan on advocating any increases in military expenditure.