Strategic Panorama 2009 - 2010 - IEEE

The Treaty of Lisbon and the common security and defence policy
Three core target areas: institutional, capabilities and a comprehensive
approach to security
The objectives Spain has designed in security and defence matters
may be grouped into three core target areas of action: the institutional
sphere; the development of capabilities; and the shaping of a comprehensive
approach to security in crisis response.
With respect to the institutional sphere, Spain will strive to strengthen
the meetings of the Member States’ heads of defence. Throughout the ten
years of ESDP the defence ministers have met only informally in a period
in which military affairs have taken on great importance.
Furthermore, the Mutual Assistance Clause established in the Treaty
of Lisbon and the other mechanisms incorporated into the security and
defence fields make it reasonable to think that defence ministers can
structure their meetings in another format in pursuit of greater consistency
and harmonisation of decisions on issues such as the development of
capabilities and the monitoring of operations.
Giving impetus to these events will enable the joint meetings of foreign
and defence ministers, which are the only formal meetings that exist as
yet, to focus on launching new operations as in other important aspects of
foreign policy, such as the deepening of the partnerships.
As for the second core area, that of the capabilities which the European
Union has at its disposal, Spain believes that the existing capabilities
should be reinforced, such as the Tactical Groups or Battlegroups. These
groups are a key element of the European Union’s rapid response. The
Swedish presidency’s efforts to reinforce these Battlegroups will therefore
be continued by facilitating mechanisms that enable them to be used
flexibly and effectively.
One of the initiatives Spain will propose with a view to facilitating the
use of the Battlegroups is the employment of the EU Operations Centre as
a preferred headquarters in the event that these groups are activated. This
would enable the Centre to reinforce its operational planning and conduct
capability in preparation for when the European Union has a military headquarters
of its own integrating the civilian and military capabilities required
to direct its operations.
The aim of Permanent Structured Cooperation is to enable countries
that are willing and meet a series of requirements as to military capabilities
to pool them and boost efficiency in crisis management. Spain will
— 174 —