Vol. 576 No. 3
31 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Defence if Ireland participated in the recent and first joint EU-NATO crisis management exercise; the nature of and matters covered by the exercise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29499/03]
The European Union, EU, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO, conducted their first ever joint crisis management exercise, CME/CMX 03, from 19 to 25 November 2003.
The exercise focused on the interaction between the EU and NATO at the strategic politico-military level based on standing arrangements for consultation and co-operation between the two organisations in times of crisis.
The exercise covered events leading to the appointment of an operational commander and to the EU tasking for military operational planning with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities, where NATO as a whole was not going to be engaged in the proposed operation.
CME/CMX 03 was based on a fictitious crisis scenario, initially developed by the EU in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. This scenario led to the consideration of options for a possible EU Petersberg Tasks crisis management operation under Article 17.2 of the Treaty on European Union. As the exercise concentrated on the pre-decisional phase of the crisis management scenario, it was purely a desktop exercise. The exercise also actively tested civilian aspects in the context of civilian operational planning.
CME/CMX 03 was conducted in Brussels and in national capitals. On the EU side, it involved all member states, the Secretary General-High Representative, the Commission and the EU Satellite Centre.
This exercise allowed both the EU and NATO to complement the lessons learned from their actual co-operation on the EU-led Operation Concordia in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with a view to further enhancing their concerted contribution to international peace and stability.
