EU 2006 - Operations and Missions
Today the European Union has its current operations and missions in three continents. EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a military operation, EUPOL Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a police mission, EU BAM Rafah in the Palestinian Territories as a monitoring mission and EUJUST LEX in Iraq as a Rule-of-Law mission are only four examples for the wide-spread civilian and military activities of the altogether twelve current operations and missions conducted in Europe, Africa, the Middle-East and South-East Asia.
Comprehensive Approach for ESDP Missions
Issue
The distinction between military and civilian operations within the framework of ESDP is in many cases rather artificial.
In reality many civilian missions require military support and military missions will often be followed by civilian missions or development and assistance programmes from the European Commission.
The EU is unique in its capability to combine and co-ordinate both civilian and military instruments in joint and comprehensive EU response.
Examples
- EU Support to AMIS II (African Union Mission in Sudan II) is a combined civilian-military action and conducted in close co-ordination with EC programmes; - AAM (Aceh Monitoring Mission): The decommissioning of GAM fighters (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka - Free Aceh Movement) and the monitoring of the reduction of Indonesian forces requires military expertise within the mission. EC programmes in support of the reintegration of former fighters and the upcoming elections; - EUSEC DR Congo (EU Security Sector Reform Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a civilian mission, however, predominantly manned by military experts; - Bosnia and Herzegovina is supported by four co-ordinated EU efforts: the military EUFOR ALTHEA, the civilian EU Police Mission, the EU Monitoring Mission, and EC programmes in view of the Stabilisation and Association Process; - Military experts from the European Union Military Staff assisted in planning and launching a number of the civilian missions.
New CIVMIL Cell
To better facilitate a comprehensive approach for the planning, launching and conduct of ESDP missions, the CIVMIL Cell was established in May 2005. This new entity within the EU Military Staff comprises both military and civilian planners including two EC representatives.
One of the Cell’s major tasks is to conduct (advance) strategic contingency planning, linking civilian and military expertise within the EU.
Missions in Europe
EUPM (EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Type: Police mission, capacity-building. EU’s first civilian crisis management operation.
Objective: Support the reform and modernization of police forces; provide training and assistance in the fight against organized crime and corruption for the original EUPM.
Support the police reform process and continue to develop and consolidate local capacity and regional cooperation in the fight against major and organised crime for the refocused EUPM follow-on mission.
Commitments: More than 525 police officers from 30 countries (25 EU and 9 non-EU) for the original EUPM; 170 police officers and 28 civilians (24 EU and 9 non EU) as well as 200 BiH nationals for the refocused EUPM follow-on mission.
Mandate: In January 2003, the EUPM was initiated as a follow-on mission to the UN International Police Task Force; no executive mandate; no operational duty. Following an invitation by the BiH authorities, the EU decided to establish a follow-on mission to EUPM with a modified mandate: The refocused EUPM follow-on mission will have a duration of two years (1 January 2006 until the end of 2007).
ALTHEA
Bosnia and Herzegovina Type: Military operation; EU-led operation. To date, the largest operation launched by the EU.
Objective: Ensure compliance with the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords, provide deterrence against future conflict, and enhance security and public safety.
Commitments: 7,000 troops from 33 countries, including 22 EU Member States. Common costs of the operation are € 71.7 million.
Mandate: In December 2004, ALTHEA took over from SFOR (Stabilisation Force), a NATO-led mission.
EU Border Mission for Moldova-Ukraine
Moldova-Ukraine Type: Border assistance mission.
Objective: Contribute to the monitoring of the common border (incl. the Transnistrian segment) as a major confidence-building measure; provide support to prevent and combat illegal activities; provide advice and training in customs controls and border surveillance; facilitate cross-border cooperation.
Commitments: 120 personnel including 69 high level customs, police and border experts seconded by EU member states and 50 local support staff; headquarters in Odessa with five field offices. The initial budget is € 8 million.
Mandate: Launched on 30 November 2005 for a two-year initial mandate.
EUPAT (EU Police Advisory Team in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia)
Macedonia (FYROM) Type: Police mission, capacity-building.
Objective: Supporting the development of an efficient and professional police service, based on European standards of policing; monitor, mentor and advise the Police on priority issues in the field of Border Police, public peace, order and accountability, the fight against corruption and organised crime, focusing on the middle and senior levels of management.
Commitments: Approximately 30 police advisors.
Mandate: EUPAT was launched on 15 December 2005, following the termination of the mandate of the EU Police Mission PROXIMA on 14 December 2005, and will have a duration of six months.
Missions in Africa
EUPOL Kinshasa (European Union Police Mission in Kinshasa)
Democratic Republic of Congo Type: Police mission, capacity-building.
Objective: Provide assistance and guidance to the Congolese Integrated Police Unit (IPU), in support of the transition process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The IPU is fully operational since March 2005.
Commitments: Approximately 30 staff members.
Mandate: Launched in October 2003; under review after the national elections (expected to take place by June 2006).
EU Support to AMIS II (EU Support to the African Union Mission in Sudan II)
Darfur (Sudan) Type: Civilian-military supporting action, capacity-building.
Objective: Support to the African Union’s effort to bring stability. The EU provides logistics, training (military and civilian forces) and transport resources, including troops airlift.
Commitments: 16 EU police officers, 19 EU operational and logistic planners, 11 military observers. € 89.2 million have been committed from the African Peace Facility. The African Union has requested another € 70 million for the mission budget until mid-2006. EU-25 bilateral contributions are in excess of € 30 million.
Mandate: Request of African Union; launched in January 2004.
EUSEC DR Congo (EU Security Sector Reform Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Democratic Republic of Congo Type: Support mission, capacity-building.
Objective: Provide advice and assistance for the reform of security sector contribute to a successful integration of the Congolese Army.
Commitments: A dozen military experts.
Mandate: Launched in June 2005 for a period of 12 months.
EU Operation in Support of MONUC (in preparation)
Democratic Republic of Congo On 23 March 2006 the Council approved the concept for a possible EU support to the United Nations’ mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) during the electoral process and decided to start military planning and preparation on that basis. The EU operation, following a UN request, will aim at providing timely and focused support to MONUC (Mission de l’Organisations des Nations Unies en République Démocratique du Congo).
Type: Military operation; EU-led operation.
Objective: Provide timely and focused support to MONUC during the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo by deployment of an advanced element to Kinshasa and the availability of a battalion-size, quickly deployable "on-call" force "over the horizon" outside the country.
Commitments: About 400 to 450 military personnel (European and multinational) in Kinshasa and additionally a battalion-size force outside the DR Congo.
Mandate: To be launched by about mid-2006 for a duration of about three months.
Missions in the Middle-East and in South-East Asia
EUJUST LEX (EU Integrated Rule-of-Law Mission for Iraq)
Iraq Type: Integrated Rule-of-Law mission, capacity-building.
Objective: Provide assistance to political transition; strengthen democratic institutions with a comprehensive training of judges, magistrates, police and prison officials in the fields of management and criminal investigation.
Commitments: € 10 million from the EU budget. Member states contribute training courses and trainers as well as some additional financial support.
Mandate: Launched in February 2005; operational by 1 July 2005 for an initial period of 12 months.
AMM (Aceh Monitoring Mission)
Indonesia Type: Monitoring mission.
Objectives: Monitor the implementation of the peace agreement between the Government of Indonesia and the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (Free Aceh Movement).
Commitments: 226 unarmed personnel. The mission brings together the EU, five ASEAN countries (Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand) as well as Norway and Switzerland.
Mandate: Launched in September 2005, planned to end in March 2006. But on 27 February 2006 the EU Council decided to extend the duration of the mission until 15 June 2006.
EU BAM Rafah (EU Border Assistance Mission at Rafah Crossing Point in the Palestinian Territories)
Palestinian Territories Type: Border assistance mission, capacity-building.
Objectives: Provide border assistance at the Rafah Crossing Point at the Gaza-Egypt border, in support to the Agreement on Movement and Access, reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Commitments: Approximately 70 personnel mainly seconded from EU member states.
Mandate: Operational phase of the mission was launched on 25 November 2005 with duration of 12 months.
EUPOL COPPS (EU Police Mission in the Palestinian Territories)
Palestinian Territories Type: Police mission, capacity-building.
Objective: Provide support to the Palestinian Authority in establishing sustainable and effective policing arrangements; co-ordinate and facilitate EU member state assistance, and - where requested - international assistance; advise on police-related criminal justice elements.
Commitments: Approximately 33 unarmed personnel mainly seconded from EU Member States and invited nations. The reference budget intended to cover the expenditure until the end of 2006 will be less than € 6.1 million (common costs).
Mandate: The mission was launched on 1 January 2006 for an initial duration of three years.
___________________________________ __________________________________ This article is based on information published in the magazine EuroFuture in Winter 2005, modified and edited by the TRUPPENDIENST editorial staff and includes up-to-date information from the official Homepage of The Council of the European Union.