Chairman of the European Union Military Committee

Transcription

1 Chairman of the European Union Military Committee CEUMC intervention at the EU Delegation Symposium in Washington Transatlantic Cooperation for Global Security: The EU's Common Security and Defence Policy An EU Rendezvous Event Washington, DC, 29 th April 2016 Panel Subject: Crisis Management in EU's neighbourhood and beyond: A military perspective. Dear Frances, Thank you very much for your kind introduction. I have to admit that I appreciate very much being here in Washington, in front of such a distinguished audience! There are two points I want to make: First point, never before has the European Union been so much militarily engaged as security provider Second point, never before has the European Union established such a close military cooperation with the United States and These two points summarize the situation today in the European Union in the military domain. The European Union is not a security organization. But at the same time, the European Union is a global actor. This elevated status comes with a "price tag", in the form of global responsibilities. The responsibility, among others, to assume its fair share of the global security burden. So, yes. The European Union is a global security provider. And it provides security by using the full spectrum of instruments in its disposal. It applies a

2 -2- Comprehensive Approach, European Union's trademark, in order to cope with the crisis each time at hand. This approach is based on the balanced and tailor-made use of the famous "three D's": Diplomacy, Development and Defence, and this is the European "Smart" power. The first two pillars constitute its "Soft" element, while the last one, Defence, is the "Hard" element of it. And I cannot resist the temptation of commenting that the military is "the most flexible, versatile, available and deployable tool in the European toolbox"! Currently, the EU is running 11 civilian Missions and 6 military Missions and Operations in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and in Africa. Approximately military personnel are deployed. This is the first time the European Union runs these many operations at the same time. The number of the military personnel, 3.400, may not be impressive. Nevertheless, the results achieved are quite significant and far reaching. It is the nature of the operations and missions we run that is unique and allows for a smaller footprint. I will briefly present you the Operations and Missions we run and their respective objectives, making evident, along the way, the absence of need of large numbers of troops. In the Balkans, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, EUFOR ALTHEA has guaranteed a safe and secure environment for the local population for 11 years now. And it is due to its success on the ground that a gradual draw-down of the mission strength has been possible over the years. In the Horn of Africa, the EU's Naval Operation ATALANTA, together with other partners, has guaranteed safe passage of all World Food Programme shipping to Mogadishu for over 8 years. It also ensured that no successful pirate attack took place on ships since This particular achievement, securing this vital Sea Line of Communication is of special importance, especially for maritime powers such as the US and the EU. And it has to be mentioned and underlined that this success is the outcome of international cooperation. The issue of cooperation is very important and I will come back to it in a while. The EU Training Mission in Somalia has trained since its launch in 2010, approximately Somali soldiers. The training in Mogadishu is now focused on commanders up to company and battalion level; in addition, specialist training is conducted in the areas of military police, civilian-military cooperation, intelligence and combat engineering. Even modules on international humanitarian law and human rights, and the protection of civilians are delivered. Our Training Mission has contributed significantly to create an initial Somali Defence capability. The US contribution to this is of paramount importance.

3 -3- The same applies to EU Training Mission in Mali. In the Central African Republic, from 2014 to 2015, an EU Force of approximately 800 troops provided support in achieving a safe and secure environment in the Bangui area. Having successfully completed its objectives, it was succeeded by a Military Advisory Mission which also fulfilled its objectives. Central African Republic held Presidential elections last February. Since this was a precondition for our presence in the country, it will lead to another transformation of the EU Military Mission in the country, this time from an Advisory to a Training one, as continuous EU support is deemed essential, to help the new government build up a credible and responsible defence force. Last but not least, there is an Operation in which the highest number of EU military personnel is involved: EUNAVFOR MED Operation SOPHIA. This Operation in the Southern Central Mediterranean Sea is focused on the fight against human traffickers and smugglers in an area between Italy and Libya. About fifteen hundred personnel and 7 naval units are involved in this Operation. What has been achieved so far? 100 boats of the smugglers have been destroyed and 68 suspected smugglers have been arrested by Italian authorities, following EUNAVFORMED activities. In addition, more than migrants have been rescued. Summing up. The EU has stepped up its military engagement quite significantly over the recent years, with 3 missions providing advice and training and another 3 executive operations providing security, most of them in Africa. I would like to emphasize that these operations and missions are fully embedded in the EU's Comprehensive Approach to tackle crises. Considering that Africa is in our immediate neighbourhood, there is a vested strategic EU interest in its security and development. How do we promote this interest? By operating or training people some thousands kilometres away, we are "extending" our borderline, trying with the use of "Soft" power and security, to create favourable conditions for the local population to stay home. As the SECGEN of NATO said about promoting stability in Afghanistan, this is exactly what we do. We create therefore a new, far-away from us, borderline, which we "defend" not with walls and fences and bunkers, but by building security and prosperity. We train local people to provide a Safe and Secure Environment for themselves and for their fellow countrymen. We restore hope. Because, for the exploding young population of these countries, the alternative to hope is to possess a Kalashnikov.

4 -4- Ladies and Gentlemen, I previously touched upon the issue of cooperation. The contemporary geostrategic environment is characterized by enormous complexity and multiplicity of interconnections. Global challenges call for united responses. We should keep in mind that three of the world's hottest spots as we speak are in our immediate neighbourhood. This conclusion takes me to my second introductory point, that of the cooperation between the European Union on the one hand and the United States on the other. The EU-US relationship in the military domain is steadily developing. Over the recent years the conceptual framework has been established through the conclusion of a number of Agreements, namely the Security Agreement (2007), the Framework Participation Agreement (2011) and the Administrative Arrangement between EUMS and EUCOM. A similar one with AFRICOM will hopefully be signed this year. Last but not least, negotiations between EU and US have started on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement. But this cooperation does not exist only on paper. At the top level, the Commander AFRICOM regularly participates in the EU meetings at Chiefs of Defence level and has the opportunity to exchange views with all EU Mission and Operation Commanders. At lower levels, regular staff-meetings are taking place between EUMS and AFRICOM. This year, we had a first exchange of intelligence with AFRICOM. This is a quantum leap in our relationship. At this point, I have to thank Commander AFRICOM, General Rodriguez and his Deputy, Admiral Franken, for their active support fostering the relationship between the EU and their Command. Cooperation is also taking place in the field, where our respective Mission and Operation Commanders work side-by-side to make a difference. In the Horn of Africa, US and EU Commanders coordinate their efforts in the fight against piracy and to support the Somali government to build up its Defence Forces. The same happens in Mali and in the Mediterranean Sea. Evaluating our cooperation I see significant progress. Are we there yet? Definitely not. I am sure that on all levels there is room for improvement for the sake of mutual benefit. And we should step up our efforts to make this happen in these challenging times.

5 -5- Ladies and Gentlemen, Let me conclude: The European Union is an important security provider with a wide range of tools. Comprehensive Approach is its trademark. The military is and will continue to be a structural element of it. The EU's relationship with the United States has never before been better than today. However, there is always room for improvement. We must all continue to further foster our ties through the mutual exchange of information and regular exchange of views. This will be for the benefit of our common endeavour to provide security. I will stop here. Thank you very much for your attention. Edited by: Captain (Hellenic Navy) Vasileios Loukovitis