The nine ministers of the European Intervention Initiative in Luxembourg (© NGV / B2)

Eight countries adhere to the European intervention initiative of E. Macron. The signed letter of intent

25th June 2018 Nicolas Gros Verheyde 8 min read

(B2 in Luxembourg) Nine Ministers of Defense (Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom) affixed this Monday (June 25) in Luxembourg, on the sidelines of the meeting of EU Defense Ministers, their signature on the Letter of Intent creating the European Intervention Initiative (IEI or EI2)

Those who can and those who want

The objective is to " develop between countries that are both militarily capable and politically willing” habits "to work together, to be able to prepare, in order to be able to intervene, where they decide, when they decide, on extremely varied scenarios “Explained Florence Parly, the French Minister of Defense to B2. She also wanted to deny any impression of duplication with ongoing initiatives.

No tool or enclosure at the strategic level

« This is a field which is not covered today by the initiatives of the Europe of Defense. Permanent Structured Cooperation has a capability dimension. The European Defense Fund will come to finance for the first time, with Community money, research and development. But, strategically, there is no tool or forum to address these issues. " (Read : IEI: uniting militarily capable and politically willing countries (Florence Parly)).

Plan together and act together

This initiative, desired by the French President " starts from a simple observation: in the face of strong and common threats, Europe must be able to equip itself with a strong defense She explained. " Europe must develop a common strategic culture: European armed forces must know each other, understand each other and be able to act quickly and effectively together ". It aims to " strengthen links between the armed forces of member countries » with the exchange of officers, joint exercises of anticipation and planning, sharing of doctrine, drafting of intervention scenarios. " It is these exchanges and these exercises that will make it possible to build the European strategic culture. and be ready just in case... (1)

Means provided ad hoc in the event of a crisis

Voluntarily, the number of countries has been restricted to constitute a 'hard core' ready to act, if necessary. This does not mean that the nine countries will leave together in the event of a blow. " It could be five or six, or even less if necessary “, specifies an expert of the file to B2. " There will be no pre-positioned or dedicated force for this initiative. » The means provided will be composed in a way and following the best practices according to a crisis and may vary from one crisis to another, from one country to another. It is thus not forbidden to think that certain countries will provide more special or protection forces, others logistical means (ships, planes, vehicles) and information (intelligence, satellites), or medical services, others, finally, the equipment needed to assist populations (medicines, humanitarian aid, etc.).

A permanent secretariat established in Paris

A 'light' permanent secretariat for EI2 will be set up in Paris, provided mainly by French personnel and on the network of foreign liaison officers already present in French defense structures, in particular at the CPCO (the center planning and conduct of operations).

Four areas of reflection

The initiative will focus its activity on four areas of reflection considered essential according to the text of the Letter of Intent reached B2:

« strategic forecasting and intelligence sharing;
scenario development and planning;
operations support;
feedback (lessons learned and doctrine). »

The study of scenarios on practical crisis cases

Among the scenarios that can be studied are: the evacuation of European nationals, humanitarian action in the event of a crisis with the support of the armed forces, targeted interventions (biological, medical, etc.), even forceful intervention, seem to be scenarios that can be studied first. " Areas where we know a crisis is likely to occur and where we may need to intervene “, according to Florence Parly.

This is not a strength

This initiative is not not a new European intervention force or structure “, indicated the participants, in particular the Dutch Minister Ank Bijleveld-Schouten. Merely, " the current security situation, Brexit and geopolitical developments mean that it is important for European countries to increase their strength ».

The forum on one side, the troops on the other

« The goal is to create a forum, with States that have the same vision, which will analyze the situations, which will have discussions early, when the crises appear in a region, and which, also, together, will be able to develop a political will ", has indicated Ursula von der Leyen, the German Defense Minister. This initiative " will be linked as closely as possible to EU security policy (as Meseberg's statement indicated). " We know that our troops and, very concretely, the combat forces are involved either in the EU, or in NATO, or in the United Nations missions or the coalitions to fight against terrorism. This is why it is important for us to have a clear structure: one is the forum and the other the troops »

A community of like-minded countries

Denmark is more enthusiastic. " We need Europe to take even more responsibility for its own security.” pointed out, in communicated, Danish Defense Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen. « This does not change the fact that NATO and the United States will continue to be the cornerstone of Denmark's defense and security policy, but it is a partnership that will complement the increased cooperation between NATO and the EU. " That " gives us access to a community of like-minded countries »

A peaceful coexistence between all devices

The High Representative of the EU also denied any impression of overlap that may have existed for a time between this initiative and the Permanent Structured Cooperation. " This approach aims above all to deepen a shared understanding from a strategic point of view, to prepare and to have exchanges between our armed forces. All of this can only help to deepen defense in the context of the EU,” explained to B2 Federica Mogherini. « I don't see any risk of duplication. On the contrary. I see, in this text, support for what we are doing. I also think that the expression "to serve" the interests and projects of PESCO even appears in the signed text. “And to add to have received” Insurance "of this harmonious coexistence between the two devices" in [his] exchanges with the Minister of the Armed Forces and the President (Macron) ».

After the letter of intent, a MOU

It now remains for the nine participating States to draft a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) founder of the IEI, in order to detail the methods of participation of each State in the EI2. The Defense Ministers gave “ instruction "to their teams to get down to it" as fast as possible ».

Comment: a more operational structure than the current arrangements

Existing structures — the battle groups like the NATO NRF — have never been used and seem unusable in a real emergency. It is a fact. Even if, officially, this assertion is contradicted by the European persons in charge, as soon as the microphones extinguished, the same ones will confirm it immediately. Recent events prove it. Whether it is internal destabilizing unrest in Mali or the Central African Republic; serious humanitarian crises (such as Hurricane Irma in 2017 or the 2010 Haiti earthquake) or serious events (natural and technological disasters, wars and conflicts), none of these measures could be or have been implemented . As for the evacuations of large numbers of European citizens placed in danger, things sometimes go very well (when a State takes charge of and coordinates the evacuation firmly)... Otherwise it's a mess. Let's hope that the 'Macron' Initiative fills this void and that Europe is finally equipped with a rapid reaction group.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

Download the Letter of Intent

The missing Italy

Only one country is missing: Italy, a country that has been invited to the initiative from the start. The internal situation with a new government less conducive to external operations, such as the tension with France over migration (the tone having risen sharply in recent days) could explain this 'desertion'. It will be necessary to ensure that anger does not spread and have consequences in industrial matters, in particular on the merger in the naval sector between STX and Fincantieri, one of the stages planned being in June (Read: The Franco-Italian naval airbus in the making).