Progress on European Defence

UK Ministry of Defence, The EU's Security and Defence Policy has become more capable, more coherent and more active during the UK Presidency, UK Defence Secretary John Reid said today in Brussels after chairing the EU's General Affairs and External Relations Council. 
 
The following capability improvements were announced today following agreement between all 25 EU Defence Ministers: 
 
— The completion of the EU's military Requirements Catalogue. The Catalogue is a comprehensive assessment of the military capabilities required to fulfil the EU's Headline Goal by 2010. Member States will now submit details of which capabilities they have available to meet the identified requirements. 
 
— 18 Battlegroups involving 26 nations have now been formed. Battlegroups are rapid-response forces of 1500 troops for early intervention to prevent potential crises from escalating. From 2007, the EU will have the capability to undertake two concurrent rapid response operations. 
 
EU Defence Ministers also agreed force levels in Bosnia (under EUFOR) should remain at current. Their agreement today coincides with the tenth anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement. The EU is demonstrating in Bosnia the coherence of ESDP, by successfully bringing together civilian and military means to provide a safe and secure environment and improve the Bosnian authorities' ability to take on greater responsibility for security on the path to normalisation. 
 
John Reid also welcomed how, under the UK Presidency, the EU was increasingly making an active difference in support of peace and security on the ground. Of the 14 missions and activities under the EU's common foreign and security policy, seven have been launched during the UK Presidency: 
 
— EU Ministers are today agreeing to provide the essential third party role which will enable the Palestinian Authorities to open the Rafah crossing point on the Gaza / Egypt border. A viable border crossing at Rafah will revitalise the local Palestinian economy. 
 
— Between July and December the UK Presidency will also have launched six other missions and activities: 
 
– a rule of law mission providing training for Iraqi judges, police and prison governors; 
– a monitoring mission in Aceh, Indonesia, to support the peace agreement; 
– military and police support to the African Union mission in Darfur, Sudan; 
– a new project to reform army pay in the Democratic Republic of Congo; 
– a new mission to assist the Palestinian Authorities in their police reform; 
– a mission providing assistance to border control on the Ukraine / Moldova border. 
 
Mr Reid said: 
 
“The European Union's civilian and military operational activity has continued to grow under the UK's EU Presidency. 
 
“The successful year-long mission in Bosnia demonstrates how EU Member States can combine their military and civilian expertise to make a difference around the world. The Bosnia mission also underlines the EU's strong relationship with NATO, which underpins all our activity in the Balkans. 
 
“The Requirements Catalogue is a vital step in ensuring that the EU, collectively, can contribute to stability around the world. It is up to Member States now to rise to their own challenge to turn requirements into real capability.”  
 
Background Notes and Information: 
 
The European Security and Defence Policy is not about war-fighting. It is about improving the EU's ability to react in times of crisis. The types of tasks carried out are: humanitarian and rescue tasks, peace-keeping and peace-making, conflict prevention and military advice and assistance. Crisis management increasingly requires a holistic approach, which the EU is able to provide bringing together its range of different instruments (civilian, military, diplomatic and economic).