I527-290 ESRIF Final Report (WEB).indd - European Commission

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Employ techniques, materiel and equipment more effi ciently
Given the split in approaches to security governance (co ordination vs. standardisation) and the majority focus on
technical solutions to security problems; it seems advisable for the EU to support international compatibility of
security capabilities as well as support standardisation and certification – with a European level of reference – through
EU and national bodies.
10.4.1 Interoperability & Standardisation
The European Security & Defence Policy (ESDP) is increasingly important to the objectives of Interoperability and Standardisation.
The ESDP will improve the EU’s ability to confront existing and emerging 21st-Century security threats, particularly in joint
civilian-military operations and crisis management measures ranging from intelligence-driven crisis prevention actions to
security sector reform, reform of the police and judiciary and military action.
The existing relationship between NATO and the EU needs to be improved, making them ever more integrated,
reducing duplication and creating permanent joint structures of co operation, while respecting the independent
nature of both organisations.
The experience of EU operations demonstrates that the lack of a permanent planning and command capability for EU
operations has become a capability shortfall. Given the civilian military focus of the EU, EU Operational Headquarters (OHQ)
would not duplicate anything that exists elsewhere.
The challenge for both the EU and NATO is to make use of the same national pool of resources (both personnel and capabilities).
WG10 calls on the Member States to ensure that their limited resources are applied to the most appropriate capabilities for
tackling the diffi cult challenges of today, avoiding duplication of work and fostering coherence.
This rationale can be applied to the Security Capability Plan for each Member State in order to improve the Security Capability in
Europe. Member States, having diff erent and sometimes divergent traditions and views, should fi nd a common understanding
and adopt a common vision for the future European Security Capabilities.
In the following the idea of a common security capability plan for the EU is put forward. It is clear that this can only be a longterm
goal, given that even within some Member States such a common security capability plan does not exist today. It is also
clear that this is a very challenging and ambitious goal.
In the EU Security context, the NATO defi nition of “Force Interoperability” calling for “the ability of the forces of two or more
nations to train, exercise and operate eff ectively together in the execution of assigned missions and tasks” (AAP 6) could
be translated in to:
“the ability of the resources of one or more PMS and of one or more EU Agencies/Institutions to train, exercise and operate eff ectively
together in the execution of the tasks/missions foreseen in the Common Security Capability Plan (CSCP).” 2
10.4.1.1 Defi ning Interoperability
ISO-IEC provides the following defi nitions of the levels of standardisation:
Commonality
(highest level)
Interchangeability
(middle level)
Compatibility
(lowest level)
“The state achieved when the same doctrine, procedures or equipment are used”.
“The ability of one product, process or service to be used in place of another to fulfi l
the same requirements”.
“The suitability of products, processes, or services for use together under specifi c
conditions to fulfi l relevant requirements without causing unacceptable interactions”.
Interoperability has many facets, and the following table presents the most important.
ESRIF FINAL REPORT - PART 2 • Working Group: The governance and coordination