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Summary of the Interventions by Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) |
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(Source : EU Spanish Presidency ; issued March 23, 2002)
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 Summary of Javier Solana's interventions at the informal meeting of Defence Ministers in Zaragoza, Spain, 22-23 March 2002
CAPABILITIES
- The European Capability Action Plan (ECAP) launched last November is proving to be an excellent instrument for the tasks of filling the gaps in European military capabilities. I am encouraged by the commitments made so far by member states.
They have allowed the activation of an increasing number of panels of experts (16 so far) to analyse remaining deficiencies and to identify all the feasible national or multinational solutions. We must make sure that all the capability shortfalls are addressed. Member States need to reflect and to agree on the appropriate methods to reach that goal.
- I must also commend the initiative of the Presidency to give a particular focus on the rapid reaction element of our headline goal.
- We must also make sure that the ECAP ultimately delivers real capabilities. Regular reporting and review have to be put in place, in order to measure progress made and give added impetus in the areas where it is insufficient or absent. Ministers of Defence have a central role to play in that respect, in framing common goals and ensuring their implementation by their respective national governments.
- If we want to reach our capability objectives we need to address seriously the issue of resources for defence.
European defence spending has steadily declined throughout the 1990s, to an average of less than 2 percent of gross domestic product. Even constant defence spending levels actually mean a reduction in capability over time. Moreover, as the number of operations increase, larger budget shares are devoted to operational costs at the expense of investment and research and development. Our ambitions in terms of building a European security and defence policy and constantly improving our capabilities must be matched by adequate efforts in the area of defence spending.
We also need to spend our resources more efficiently. For an aggregate that represents roughly half of the US budget, the Europeans are far from producing half of the capability. The ECAP offers the opportunity to improve this situation, if backed up by sufficient resources. Improving capabilities is not exclusively a question of procurement. Investing in areas sucha as training, doctrines, procedures and interoperability is very important as well.
- Increased solidarity and a stronger sense of common interests among member states reduce the scope for purely national military intervention and push towards more integration between their armed forces. Therefore it should not be hard to move more decisively towards greater task sharing among our military, development of multinational capabilities, pooling of resources or assets, joint operation and maintenance. Areas such as strategic mobility or communication and information systems (CIS) are prime candidates for progress in that approach.
ARMAMENTS
- Requirements for improving European military capabilities have been properly identified. We are now in the phase where member states must take decisions about the technical solutions needed in order to remedy the shortfalls. It is appropriate to start thinking about the way forward on the question of a European armament policy.
- We have to prevent theoretical debates to stand in the way of the rapid progress needed to meet our capability objectives in time. The headline goal process is based on the principles of voluntary contributions and of a bottom-up approach. It seems natural to continue to apply a method that has been successful for the definition of requirements in the next phase of the process: ECAP should continue to rely on this pragmatic and result oriented approach.
- The lessons learned from this process should help member states to shape the framework of a sensible common armament policy in due course. The priority should go to the harmonisation of requirements.
- Close co-operation schemes among some member states such as OCCAR (Organisation conjointe de coopération en matière d'armement) should be strengthened and the experience gained could serve as a model for future co-operation among all member states.
- We also have to fulfil the commitments made at the June 1999 European Council of Cologne to encourage the development of a competitive and dynamic industrial and technology base in Europe. An appropriate framework for a constructive dialogue with industry should be to be put in place.
TERRORISM
- The balance of the action undertaken by the European Union after the September 11th events is on the whole very positive. The combination of initiatives across the different areas of EU activity demonstrates the added value of the EU. Our co-operation with the US, in the economic and the justice/home affairs areas is intense and valued by our American partners.
- As far as Common Foreign and Security Policy is concerned, the terrorist dimension now features prominently in the political dialogue with all our partners. Concrete initiatives to co-operate more effectively with them in the fight against terror are being implemented. Monitoring of developments in the field of international terrorism has become a priority.
- In the crucial area of intelligence, the recent establishment of an intelligence analysis cell within the council secretariat is a concrete step towards a more effective co-ordination among member states in that respect.
- As far as the military response to terrorism is concerned, the main priority is the development of adequate capabilities. The headline goal process provides for the essential military capabilities that we would need, should the EU decide to confront terrorist threats abroad. There is in my view no need to fundamentally change our priorities in that context.
EU-NATO CO-OPERATION
- Good co-operation with NATO in the Balkans should continue. We need to confirm the strategic partnership.
- I hope the pending issues towards permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO (Berlin plus") can be resolved rapidly. As agreed in Barcelona, I will make the appropriate high-level contacts, together with the Presidency, to ensure a positive outcome.
BALKANS
- In Barcelona, Heads of State and government have expressed the EU's availability to take responsibility for an operation to follow that currently undertaken by NATO in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, on the understanding that Berlin plus would be in place.
- Work to implement the Barcelona conclusions has now started in the relevant Council bodies, with a view to enabling the EU to take the appropriate decisions. I am sure that today's discussion of Defence ministers will give the right impetus to this endeavour, thus bringing us closer to making operationality - as declared at Laeken - a reality.
-ends-
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