EU Governments Launch New Plan to Build Defence Capabilities for Future ESDP Operations

, BRUSSELS: European Union governments agreed today on the principles of a Capability Development Plan, which will provide a systematic and structured approach to building the capabilities required for operations under the European Security and Defence Policy far into the future. The Plan should also assist Member States to develop their national plans and programmes, balancing forces appropriately against ambition and resource. 
 
The decision by the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency, which will coordinate work on the CDP, will build on the Long-Term Vision report endorsed by governments in October. The LTV reviewed geopolitical, demographic, economic, technological and military trends over the next 20 years, and set out a high-level view of the defence capabilities which will be required to respond to this changing world.