An assessment of the military and civilian operations under way (including Kosovo, Lebanon and Georgia, the latter starting today), where EU forces or forces from the member states are at work; taking stock of the European "military capabilities"; the "bond between the Europe of defence and the citizens". These are the items on the agenda of the informal meeting of the Defence Ministries of the 27 member states, planned for 1 and 2 October in Deauville. In particular, Hervé Morin, the French Defence Minister, expressed the will to insist on the "strengthening of the European military capabilities"; actually, "confronted by the increasing need for military operations, everyone agrees that modern, strong, flexible and interoperable forces must be available". The Deauville meeting "will review the plans for capabilities that Europeans need and which are at a more advanced state of progress. This includes in particular the possibility of a new European fleet of cargo planes, naval-aviation cooperation, space observation and several research and technology projects, such as pilot-less planes". The aim is to "find what member states are willing to commit themselves to each project".
