Eamon Ryan
Ceist:116 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Defence the recent developments in the EU's security and defence policy - ESDP; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4790/03]
Written Answers. - EU Defence Policy.
I welcome this opportunity to update the Deputy on continuing developments in the area of European Security and Defence Policy in so far as my area of responsibility is concerned.
The breakthrough on an overall EU-NATO agreement at the Copenhagen European Council, 12 and 13 December 2002, has given significant impetus to ESDP. Matters are proceeding in accordance with principles established at the Feira European Council, which provide that there should be full respect for the autonomy of EU decision-making, recognition of the different nature of the EU and NATO, and no discrimination against any of the member states.
Agreement on permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO, as reached at the Copenhagen European Council, has opened the way for an EU takeover of the current NATO-led, UN-supported "Allied Harmony" military monitoring and stabilisation mission in FYROM. First anticipated by the Barcelona and Seville European Councils, and with a view to assisting with full implementation of the 2001 Framework Peace Agreement for FYROM, the Copenhagen European Council also provided for the finalisation of work on the EU's overall approach to the operation.
At the January General Affairs and External Relations Council, a joint action was agreed confirming the EU's decision in principle to act. Considerable progress has been achieved in recent weeks in planning for the EU take-over and member states have been asked for indications of the numbers of personnel they wish to contribute. It is anticipated that the EU-led mission will be similar in size to the current "Allied Harmony" mission, that is, approximately 300-350 personnel.
It is expected that Foreign Ministers will be asked to approve a joint action providing for the actual launch of the operation in late February and the operation itself will commence during the course of March. At the Copenhagen Council the EU also indicated its willingness to lead a follow-on operation to the UN-authorised, NATO-led Stabilisation Force, SFOR, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Consultations with NATO and with the Bosnian authorities in this regard are ongoing and it is likely that the EU will be in a position to take over the mission early in 2004. SFOR is a significantly larger military operation than the current NATO-led "Allied Harmony" operation in FYROM. Although currently being downsized, it is likely to consist of approximately 6,000 personnel by early 2004, when it is anticipated the EU will be in a position to take over the mission.
Development of military capabilities for crisis management is continuing through implementation of the European Capabilities Action Plan. Member states have been invited to offer more focused contributions to the headline goal or to refine existing ones in order to rectify certain shortfalls. Final reports from all ECAP panels are required by 1 March 2003 and a further ministerial-level capabilities conference is likely to take place in May 2003. Planning is under way for a crisis management operation desk top exercise next November, CME/CMX03, which will seek to validate decision-making processes in the context of an EU-led crisis management operation with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities.
Question No. 117 answered with Question No. 115.