Impetus - Europa

PARTNERS
Common challenges for the
Armed Forces of the European
Union Member States -
reflections on the state of play
and on the way ahead
By General Håkan Syrén, Chairman of the European Union Military Committee (CEUMC).
Responding to the Lisbon Treaty
Two and a half years have passed since the entry into
force of the Lisbon Treaty in December 2009. It is
appropriate now to assess the achievements and the
present state of play in the development of the military
dimension of the Common Security and Defence Policy
(CSDP). I am focussing on the achievements, challenges
and opportunities ahead rather than on failures and
problems, although, of course, with a readiness to
draw constructive lessons from the past.
We are currently facing an extremely challenging period.
The shifts in the global balance of power, accompanied
by the severe economic and political strains
within the Union itself have made the general
conditions for setting the sails of the
strengthened Security and Defence
Policy within the EU very different
from what was envisaged at its
start. Furthermore, the revolutionary
changes in North Africa
and the Arab world have brought
new and urgent tasks onto the EU agenda.
Our outlook for the CSDP is global, but recent
experience has reminded us that the stability and security
of our own close neighbourhood cannot be taken
for granted.
The pressures on the formation of the EEAS have thus
been very great. On the whole I think that the pressures
have helped us to prioritise and focus our work. Much
remains to be done and the need for strategic and
thoughtful European leadership is greater than ever.
The EUMC is playing its part. It responded proactively
to the challenges raised in the Lisbon Treaty by formulating
a Strategic Plan, focusing on five priorities: Operations,
Comprehensive Approach, Capabilities, Strategic
Partnerships, and last but not least, general support to
the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. By and large,
those priorities have provided relevant guidance, not
only for the work of the EUMC, but for other parts of
the CSDP structures as well. They have also proved to
EUMC is playing its part
8
Gen Syrén meeting with Officers of the Uganda Peoples
Defence Force (UPDF) during a visit to EUTM Somalia.
be a comprehensive and understandable
framework for presenting what the
EUMC is doing for ministers, parliamentarians
and others, engaged
in the EU security and defence
policy in Member States as well as
in partner countries. The Chiefs of
Defence at their meeting in Brussels in
April 2012 will review the priorities.
EU Operations and Comprehensive Approach
Supporting EU Operations is always a priority. The EU
can be proud of what has been achieved. EUFOR Althea
in Bosnia-Herzegovina, EU NAVFOR Atalanta operating
outside the Horn of Africa and EUTM Somalia in
Uganda, are all evidence of how the EU is today actively
contributing to international security and stability. The
commanders are indeed delivering against their
mandates. However, reflecting on current force
generation, I see very little room for complacency.
Although the volume of the EU military engagement
remains quite limited, I am seriously concerned about
the current lack of willingness of Member States to
commit resources that match politically agreed
ambitions. This affects operations as well as the EU
Battle Groups.