The informal Council of EU Ministers of Defence (Brussels, 11/12 October) was the occasion to reaffirm the need to accelerate the formulation of the European Policy of Security and common Defence (PESD) provided by the Treaties of Maastricht and Amsterdam. In view of the present crisis, accompanied by the possibility of a massive redeployment of the American contingent currently in the Balkans to Afghanistan and neighbouring countries, the Ministers and the Senior Representative of EU Foreign Policy of joint security (PESC) Javier Solana reaffirmed the commitment of their governments and the Council to “ assume greater responsibilities concerning the missions for the maintenance of peace“. In view of the second “Conference of Capabilities” that will bring together the Foreign and Defence Ministers of the Fifteen on 19/20 November, the President of the EU Military Committee, General Hägglund presented a report in which the gaps in the defensive apparatus of the countries of the Union are listed: they include anti-aircraft defence and structures of command and control. The Belgian Presidency has drawn up a plan of action (which will be further developed by Spain in the first half of 2002) containing measures aimed at filling these gaps. The stated objective is that of ensuring that the “European intervention force”, composed of 60,000 men, becomes operational by 2003.
