Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 March 2004
24 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Defence the agenda for the EU Defence Ministers’ meeting in April 2004; the plans to discuss a German, French and UK proposal to create a rapid deployment force and the way in which this new force relates to the already established European rapid reaction force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9313/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn informal meeting of Defence Ministers of the European Union and acceding states is scheduled to take place in Brussels on 5 and 6 April 2004. A number of such informal meetings have been held in recent years. The meetings have been a useful forum for informal discussions focused on promoting dialogue between Defence Ministers in the context of the continued development of the European Security and Defence Policy.
Discussion items currently on the draft agenda include: the ongoing development of the EU's capabilities to carry out Petersberg Tasks operations — that is, peace support, crisis management and humanitarian operations; progress on the creation in 2004 of an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development as agreed by the European Council held at Thessaloniki in June 2003; development and definition of a 2010 headline goal; the development of an EU rapid response capability with an emphasis on supporting the United Nations in crisis management; and relations between the EU and NATO with particular regard to capabilities development and operational planning in the light of a possible EU takeover of the current UN-authorised NATO-led SFOR mission. Given the developmental nature of European Security and Defence policy, and in line with established practice, the agenda will be finalised closer to the date of the meeting.
Strengthening the United Nations is both an Irish national and European priority. Real world experience, with the successful termination of operation ARTEMIS in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has shown the potential for the EU to conduct rapid response operations in support of UN objectives.
In December 2003, the General Affairs and External Relations Council, GAERC, concluded that work on the EU military rapid response capability should be initiated, aimed at complementing the headline goal with a precise definition and subsequent identification of modalities for EU rapid response elements. In this respect, the Council welcomed the proposals to further develop the EU's military capability to support the UN in crisis management at short notice and on a short-term basis.
The Council requested the political and security committee to continue guiding the necessary EU developments in this field. It also requested the Secretary General — High Representative, Mr. Javier Solana, to report to the Council in March 2004 on the progress made on possible amendments to the Helsinki headline goal catalogue and on any necessary adjustments of strategic planning to support EU rapid response operations.
As part of this process, a proposal was put forward by the UK, France and Germany, which is seen as a useful contribution to the ongoing debate on the development of the rapid response capabilities with particular reference to EU-UN co-operation. Consideration of the proposal is currently at a preliminary stage. It is intended that Secretary General — High Representative Solana will make a presentation at the meeting on the progress made to date on rapid response.
