EU nieuws over veiligheid en defensie (en)
Summit in Chicago. Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, were in Chicago, along with 60 Heads of State and Government representing NATO members as well as third states
As most of its Member States are also members of NATO, the EU has in recent years developed a strong partnership with the organisation: at political level through enhanced institutional cooperation, in operations since both are deployed together in several theatres - such as Afghanistan, Kosovo, or the fight against piracy in the Horn of Africa - as well as in the development of military capabilities. The overall context of financial crisis and the new US strategic orientations have made this collaboration even more essential
The future of Afghanistan was a major topic of the Summit.The EU reiterated the continued long-term commitment to support Afghanistan's security and development, including significant support to an effective Afghan civilian police force. The EU and its Member States currently provide around €1 billion a year in overall assistance to the country, and they committed to maintain funding at least at current levels after 2014. In the security sector, Member States have agreed in principle to extend until the end of 2014 the mandate of the EU police mission, which focuses on institutional reform of the Afghan police, leadership and specialised training, and improving the links between the police and the justice sector
In the area of European defence capabilities, the EU presented the substantial progress made through concrete projects facilitated by the European Defence Agency (EDA) on the Pooling & Sharing of defence capabilities among Member States, for example in the areas of Air-to-Air Refuelling or Medical Field Hospitals. The close cooperation between the EU and NATO ensures that the EU's work on Pooling and Sharing and NATO's equivalent Smart Defence concept are, in practice, complementary and mutually reinforcing
Framework agreement for the participation of Albania in EU crisis management operations
The Executive Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Pierre Vimont and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Edmond Haxhinasto, signed on the 5 June 2012 in Brussels a Framework Agreement on the participation of Albania in EU crisis management operations
Albania is already a partner in the area of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), having negotiated ad hoc arrangements for its participation in two European Union military operations: EUFORTchad/RCA in Chad and the Central African Republic, and EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina
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EU launches negotiations on an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities
The European Union officially launched on the 6 June in Vienna the multilateral diplomatic process to discuss and negotiate its initiative for an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities. Under the chairmanship of Maciej Popowski, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, 110 participants from more than 40 countries gathered for this multilateral meeting, at which the European Union introduced a revised version of its draft Code, based on comments received in bilateral meetings with various partners
Space activities are expanding and their importance is crucial. Space is a resource for all countries in the world, and those which do not yet have space activities will have them in the future. Therefore the EU considers necessary to ensure greater security in outer space and believes a pragmatic and incremental process can assist in achieving this goal. The EU initiative for an International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities was launched at the end of 2008 as a means to achieve enhanced safety and security in outer space through the development and implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures
Read statements by H.Van Rompuy, J.M. Barroso and Catherine Ashton
Press release
Le Conseil proroge de deux ans la mission EULEX Kosovo
Les cadres de la police de RDC formes a l'encadrement et au commandement
Le Conseil a décidé le 6 juin de proroger la mission "État de droit" menée par I'Union européenne au Kosovo d'une période supplémen-tairededeuxansjusqu'au 14 juin 2014. Un budget de 111 millions d'euros est alloué pour la première année
Mme Catherine Ashton, Haute Représentante de 1'Union, a déclaré: "EULEX accomplit un travail important et effkace en soutenant l'État de droit au Kosovo. J'encourage les autorités du Kosovo a tirer parti de I'expertise d'EULEX, sa mission s'adaptant a Involution des circonstances et aux progrès déja réalisés. A I'avenir, de plus en plus de responsabilités devront être assumées par les autorités locales."
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Third intake of EUTM Somalia ready to go back to Mogadishu
The third intake of Somali soldiers trained by the EU Training Mission has graduated following an intensive 6 month training course in Bihanga Camp, in Uganda. The 600 noncommissioned officers and recruits are ready for redeployment back to their home country, equipped with new skills sets including fighting in built-up areas, weapon marksmanship, communications, countering improvised explosive devices and life saving
The passing out parade on 10 May was the symbolic pinnacle of the training effort and was attended by representatives of the EU, Uganda, and Somalia, and covered by key international media organisations, including BBC, Al Jazeera and Agence France Presse.The Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service, Maciej Popowski, praised the work of the mission as a shining example of the success of Uganda-EU cooperation in the quest of stabilising Somalia, which is a top priority for the EU
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Trente officiers supérieurs de la Police Nationale Con-golaise (PNC) ont terminé le Ier juin a Kinshasa une formation en matière de "Management général et opéra-tionnel"
Soutenue par la mission EUPOL RD Congo, les Nations Unies et la Coopération allemande, cette formation innovante constitue une étape es-sentielle vers une gestion plus professionnelle des services et unités de police
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EUSEC RD Congo permet Ie controle biométrique de la paie de l'armée en RDC
Malgré la situation sécuri-taire précaire a l'Est de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), une mission mixte de EUSEC RDC et des Forces Armées de la RDC (FARDC) a permis en mai le controle de la paie des effec-tifs du régiment de Rumang-abo, au Nord-Kivu. II est en effet nécessaire de renforcer le controle afin de s'assurer que tous les militaires soient payés chaque mois
Cette activité est une des multiples facettes du soutien apporté par la mission EUSEC RDC a la bonne gouvernance budgétaire etfinancièredes FARDC, après notamment le recensementdes militaires et la distribution de la carte d'identité militaire
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Upcoming activities:
11-13 June: High Representative Ashton addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg
18-19 June: High Representative Ashton at talks on Iran's nuclear programme in Moscow
25 June: Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg
Les avis exprimés ne peuven t en aucun cas être considérés com me une position officielle du Service européen pour faction extérieure. The views expressed are not to be taken in any way to represent the official position of the European External Action Service.