Air Rapid Response Concept
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Following the adoption of the European Security Strategy, in December 2003, and Member States’ commitment to attain Headline Goal (HLG) 2010 as well as reinforce EU ability to 'respond with rapid and decisive action' to an emerging crisis, the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) meeting in December 2003 concluded that work on the EU Military Rapid Response capability should aim 'at complementing the Headline Goal with a precise definition and subsequent identification of and modalities for EU Rapid Response elements'.
The EU Military Rapid Response Concept (EU MRRC) outlines key requirements for military EU Rapid Response Capabilities. It defines Rapid Response Elements (RRE) as a package of forces and capabilities, possibly combined and joint, tailored for a specific task, at very high readiness. It will either be part of an overall force or able to conduct an operation of smaller scale.
Members States (MS) also agreed the content of the Requirements Catalogue (RC) then, in September 07, the Force Catalogue (FC) . Furthermore, after Council recognition of the need to give consideration to the development of a Rapid Response Air Initiative (RRAI) within the boundary of the HLG 2010 , the EUMC agreed on 21 December 07 on the Air Rapid Response Concept (AirRRC).
| With the AirRRC document, the EU has provided a core concept for the rapid deployment of a Deployable Operating Base (DOB), introducing mechanisms to rapidly generate Air Force assets and then, to set up a DOB on a remote theatre, from up to 15.000 km distance. As part of the inventory of tools that EU can rely on to manage crisis, the DOB offers a flexible structure, consistent with the AirRRC, which can be employed in a large variety of operational situations. |
Military Capabilities of the European Union
The agenda of the third working session featured the development of the military capabilities of the European Union and the European Defence Agency. Discussions on military capabilities focussed on the „Headline Goal“ process, the Rapid Response Capability and the Capability Development Plan.
Minister Jung stated that during the German Council Presidency the „Headline Goal“ process would be taken forward in close coordination with all Member States. The first goal has already been achieved: the preparation of the Force Catalogue 2007 with the contributions of the new Member States Bulgaria and Romania. The definition of the structure of the Progress Catalogue, the analysis of the declared forces and capabilities for existing deficits and surpluses and the development of methods to evaluate the operational implications are the subject of current work.
As the next point the Minister addressed the development of the Rapid Response Capability. The EU Battle Groups have been fully operational since the beginning of this year. In the medium-term the preconditions for rapid crisis reaction with contributions of all Services should be developed. The aim was to expand the range of options for graduated action using all available military assets. This purpose is served by the revision of the EU Military Response Concept (MRRC) suggested by the Presidencies of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.
The key was the development of efficient mechanisms to provide Rapid Response Forces including elements of all Services. Jung emphasized that this was not aimed at expanding capability requirements or setting up new structures or standby arrangements.
The third item on the agenda was the Capability Development Plan. At the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers in Levi during the Finnish Presidency the European Defence Agency was tasked to develop this plan. The purpose of this plan was to combine short-term capability requirements, medium-term plans and long-term capability demands in the form of a matrix.
Finally, the Minister addressed the European Defence Agency. He underlined the importance of a competitive European Defence Technological and Industrial Base which he considered the special challenge for the year 2007. An efficient and reliable defence industry was indispensable for the operational capability of armed forces. The international operations of the European Union and NATO demonstrated the importance of equipment for mission accomplishment.
A European Defence Technological and Industrial Base had to be oriented towards the military needs of the armed forces. Therefore the military needs of the Member States had to be coordinated on the basis of the growing number of combined operations. This task had to be performed by the European Defence Agency. The security of supply with defence equipment had to be strengthened by reliable agreements between the Member States of the European Union.
http://www.eu2007.de/en/News/Press_Releases/March/0302RAA1.html
Declaration on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the signature
of the Treaties of Rome
http://www.eu2007.de/de/News/download_docs/Maerz/0324-RAA/English.pdf
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