1. The Council welcomed continued work on the development of military and civilian capabilities for crisis management within the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) and in support of the objectives of the Common Foreign Security Policy (CFSP).

CRISIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS

2. The Council welcomed the successful start of operation “CONCORDIA” in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This EU-led military operation, launched at the invitation of the authorities of this country and following on from the successful NATO operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, positively underpins the implementation of the OHRID framework agreement. The Council underlined that “CONCORDIA” should be seen in the context of the overall security and stability of the region. To this end, the Council tasked the competent bodies and invited the SG/HR, in the light of the discussions in the European Council in Thessaloniki, to take forward work for a review of the operation.

3. The Council welcomed the progress made by the first ESDP operation, the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM), since it was launched in January 2003. The first five months of the operation have demonstrated the valuable contribution that EUPM is making to the establishment of sustainable policing arrangements under the ownership of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s authorities. The EUPM’s initial priorities, returnee security and the fight against organised crime, are yielding successful results in good co-operation with the Bosnia and Herzegovina police authorities. EUPM reinforces the broader rule of law strategy both within the Stabilisation and Association Process and the civilian peace implementation led by the High Representative.

4. In this context, the Council welcomed the participation of acceding States and third countries in these two EU-led operations.

MILITARY CRISIS MANAGEMENT

5. The Council welcomed the implementation of permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO. EU-NATO cooperation has increased the Union’s operational capabilities as well as the effectiveness of EU and NATO in crisis management. These arrangements provide a solid foundation for the strategic partnership between the EU and NATO in crisis management.

6. The Council welcomed the important work undertaken and the progress made in improving EU military capabilities since November 2002, through the implementation of the European Capability Action Plan (ECAP), the updated Member States contributions, the elaboration of the Helsinki Catalogues, and the launching of the first ECAP Project Groups.

7. The Council took note of the "Helsinki Force Catalogue 2003" and the “Helsinki Forces Catalogue 2003 Supplement”. In this context the Council took note of the "National and Multinational Projects and Initiatives 2003" compilation. In addition, the Council approved the "Helsinki Progress Catalogue 2003", which, in its new form, assesses the progress made since 2001. It identifies existing Capability shortfalls, analyses their implications and makes proposals to eliminate, reduce or manage the subsequent limitations. It provides an updated assessment of the current state of the overall EU military abilities.

8. Bearing in mind the progress or accomplishments made in:

- the effective conduct of the first EU-led crisis management operations,

- the establishment of the appropriate political and military bodies, together with the necessary conceptual work and procedures for EU-led crisis management operations as well as the implementation of the EU exercise programme,

 - the EU–NATO permanent arrangements, including the Berlin + arrangements on guaranteed access to the Alliance’s planning, presumption of availability of pre-identified assets and capabilities of NATO and identification of a series of command options made available to the Union,

 - the appropriate arrangements allowing non-EU European NATO members and other interested States to contribute to EU military crisis management, and based on the forces contributed to the Helsinki Force Catalogue 2003, the findings of the Helsinki Progress Catalogue and the perspective in addressing the Collective Capabilities Goals, including through the implementation of the ECAP Process, the Council confirmed that the EU now has operational capability across the full range of Petersberg tasks, limited and constrained by recognised shortfalls. These limitations and/or constraints are on deployment time and high risk may arise at the upper end of the spectrum of scale and intensity, in particular when conducting concurrent operations. These limitations and constraints on full achievement of the Headline and Capability Goals could be alleviated if the recommendations on meeting the shortfalls are followed-up.

9. In the context of the provisions of the EU Capability Development Mechanism (CDM), the Council approved the "Progress Report on Military Capabilities". The Council, recognising the importance of the coherent and mutually reinforcing development of military capabilities where requirements overlap, welcomed the first meeting of the EU – NATO Capability Group.

10. The Council endorsed the attached "Capabilities Conference Declaration". This confirms Member States' determination to make the necessary efforts to further develop the EU’s military capabilities, including through the establishment of the ECAP Project Groups in which Member States concerned will seek to implement selected solutions identified by the ECAP Panels.

11. The Council recognised the important role of the defence industry in delivering appropriate interoperable and cost-effective capabilities. Therefore the Council:

- called for a sufficient level of resources and the better coordination in the field of research and development,

- underlined the need to strengthen the European defence, technological and industrial base and ensure security of supply as a contribution to the development of European military capabilities,

- pointed out the need to enhance European defence industrial cooperation as Member States consider appropriate.

12. The Council welcomed proposals and initiatives including also in the context of the Convention concerning a defence capabilities development and acquisition agency within the EU.

13. The Council welcomed the presentation by the Commission of its recent communication “Towards an EU Defence Equipment Policy” and encouraged the Member States and the Commission to work together in considering the relevant proposals.

14. The Council took note of the Presidency’s orientations on possible contributions of National Armaments Directors of the EU Member States in this process as set out at annex to these conclusions.

15. The Council noted the Report on EU Military Rapid Response based on the Presidency’s work plan. The report underlines the fulfilment of the principles set out in the Council conclusions of 19 November 2002, the assessment from advance planning and force packages based on illustrative scenarios and the identification of the generic and specific measures to be taken in order to shorten the EU reaction time.

16. The Council noted the finalisation by the PSC of the EU Military Rapid Response Concept, underlining that the Union has developed the necessary conceptual framework that would enable the conduct of EU-led military Crisis Management Operations requiring a rapid response. It confirmed the need for a rapid reaction capability in particular for humanitarian and rescue tasks, commending the creation of a database with information provided by Member on high readiness capabilities (less than five days readiness), potentially available to the EU.

17. The Council concluded that the Union has, in principle, the ability to conduct EU military crisis management operations requiring rapid response, dependant on the political willingness and ability to accelerate decision making, which will allow timely military crisis response planning and force preparation; and on Member States’ readiness rapidly to contribute the required interoperable assets and capabilities for the conduct of the operation. It requested the Political and Security Committee (PSC) to continue guiding the necessary EU developments in this field. In particular the Council underlined the need that both the EU Military Rapid Response and the envisaged NATO Response Force should be mutually reinforcing, where requirements overlap, while respecting the autonomy of the EU and NATO.

18. The Council took note that developed concepts establish a sound framework for the conduct of EU-led military crisis management operations and provide a firm foundation for the continued development of operating procedures.

19. In the context of the implementation of the exercise programme 2003-2007, the Council welcomed the on going preparatory work on the first joint EU-NATO crisis management exercise CME/CMX 03, which will take place from 19 to 25 November 2003.

20. The Council reaffirmed the importance of the EU Common Training for the improvement of interoperability and the development of a European security culture under ESDP. The Council tasked the PSC to make proposals for a co-ordinated EU Training Policy in the field of ESDP, including civil-military coordination and encompassing both civilian and military dimensions. Based on the lessons learned from the pilot orientation course (Brussels, 12-16 May 2003), the PSC is requested to elaborate the necessary arrangements for the regular conduct of the orientation course and the improvement of networking among Member States.

21. In the context of the fight against terrorism, the Council took note of the establishment of a database of military assets and capabilities relevant to the protection of civilian populations against the effects of terrorist attacks, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN), on a voluntary basis. Modalities, procedures and criteria for the use of these military assets and capabilities, including coordination with the Community Mechanism and the Coordinating Mechanism, are under development. The question of military capabilities required to protect forces deployed in EU-led crisis management operations against terrorist attacks, including CBRN, has also been addressed.

22. The Council recognised the importance of the space applications and functions needed in order to enhance the EU capabilities to carry out crisis management operations. It noted the Green Paper from the Commission and the European Space Agency and invited Member States to contribute to the ongoing consultation process.

23. The Council welcomed the strengthening of the dialogue and cooperation with the Mediterranean partners in the field of crisis management and looked forward to the continuation of the work within the EU and with partners.

24. The Council appointed by a separate decision General Rolando Mosca Moschini, present Italian Chief of Staff, as the new Chairman of the EUMC for a period of three years, starting from 9 April 2004.

CIVILIAN CRISIS MANAGEMENT

25. The Council welcomed the continued progress in the four areas of police, rule of law, civilian administration and civil protection. In the specific latter area of civil protection, it welcomed progress made on defining modalities for the use of the Community Mechanism to facilitate reinforced co-operation in Civil Protection interventions in EU crisis management referred to in Title V of the Treaty on the European Union. The Council also noted the launching of the first pilot courses of the EC project on Training for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management.

26. The Council stressed that the development of the EU’s civilian crisis management capacity is an on-going process. In this context, it welcomed the conceptual work done on the wider use of EU monitoring missions as a generic crisis management instrument. The Council also welcomed the initiatives to further develop co-operation between the EU and the United Nations in civilian crisis management.

27. The Council looks forward to receiving proposals by the SG/HR on the development of an appropriate EU planning and mission support capability within the General Secretariat of the Council as agreed by the Council in its conclusions of 19 November 2002, based upon an assessment of the specific needs and of the synergies with the capabilities already existing in the Commission, and taking into account the budgetary implications.

CONFLICT PREVENTION

 28. The Council welcomed the continuing implementation of the Programme for the prevention of violent conflicts adopted at the European Council in Göteborg. In this context it welcomed the Presidency’s emphasis on the regional dimension of conflict prevention, as demonstrated by the seminar on EU conflict prevention in the Western Balkans (Athens, 4 – 7 May 2003). A report on the implementation of the EU Programme for the Prevention of Violent Conflicts is being prepared ahead of the European Council in Thessaloniki.

Annex to the ANNEX ORIENTATIONS BY THE PRESIDENCY ON THE RE-INFORCEMENT OF COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF ARMAMENTS

The Presidency invites the National Armaments Directors of the EU Member States:

 - to collectively cooperate in the framework of ECAP and for the possible creation of an intergovernmental defence capabilities development and acquisition agency, in order to further strengthen armaments cooperation in Europe.

- to collectively undertake a study from an armaments perspective, in coordination with other competent bodies, on the objectives and the relevant functions of an intergovernmental defence capabilities development and acquisition agency. NADs would best serve this purpose drawing upon their experience from existing forms of armaments cooperation.
- to propose the practical modalities for acquisition-related solutions in the context of the work of the Project Groups.

- to give advice, as appropriate, on the consideration of the Commission’s Communication, European Defence-Industrial and Market Issues “Towards an EU Defence Equipment Policy” (COM (2003)113 final – doc. 8484/03).

- to provide their experience on the role of defence R&T, particularly with regard to innovation and long-term competitiveness of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base

°General Affairs and External Relations Council