22 September Defence ministers informal

Date: 28/09/00

EU DEFENCE ministers provisionally agreed a report setting out the exact number and type of personnel and equipment needed to create an independent military force capable of crisis management missions. The Union wants to have 60,000 rapid-reaction troops ready for possible deployment by 2003. But French Defence Minister Alain Richard said the EU could eventually require up to 230,000 troops to handle European crisis situations. Speaking after the meeting in Ecouen, near Paris, Richard said the Union would need to have 80,000 troops at its disposal at first. “To be able to deploy 60,000 men, our aim will probably have to be closer to 80,000 men,” he explained. “With the need to relieve them after a year, the total personnel we would need to prepare would be between 180,000 and 220,000 to 230,000 men, which is within Europe's capabilities.” Richard added that the force would be backed up by 300-350 combat aircraft and 80 naval vessels.

THE report will be presented to EU foreign ministers for formal agreement at a meeting on 9 October in preparation for a conference on 20 November at which member states will set out their individual contributions to the list. Other countries, including the six European NATO members and nine countries applying for membership of the Union, will also be invited to make contributions.

SEVERAL ministers announced the number of troops and equipment they would contribute to the overall target. Germany's Rudolf Scharping said his country would provide 18,000 troops, 12,000 of whom would come from the ground army and the rest from the navy and the air force. Belgium's André Flahaut has offered a mechanised brigade of 3,000 troops, a squadron of F-16 fighter planes, two frigates, six mine-sweepers and a back-up plane. Other personnel contributions include 6,000 troops from Spain, 2,000 troops from Austria and 1,000 from Portugal. While the EU is expected to be able to meet the target for troops, officials believe it will be far harder to make up the shortfall on military command and control facilities, transport, reconnaissance and logistics.

JAVIER Solana, the EU's High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, urged member-state governments to “be ambitious” but also called on them to make achievable commitments to the headline goals based on their national defence spending plans. “We should avoid paper promises,” he said. “Member states should ensure that their offers of commitments are realistic.” Solana also stressed the need for effective decision-making and command structures to make the Union's new military role a success. “It is important that we put in place proper procedures and structures for crisis management operations,” he added.

The EU has created three temporary committees to provide military and security advice to the Union as it develops its new crisis management role. Governments are due to decide on permanent arrangements by the end of this year.