Better
cooperation between civilian and military actors will contribute to
improved maritime surveillance and more effective peace support
operations. The EU defence ministers were agreed on this at the
informal meeting in Göteborg on Monday.
[isria.com] In addition to the defence ministers, others attending the meeting
included Javier Solana, High Representative for the EU Common Foreign
and Security Policy, and representatives of the European Commission and
NATO. Crown Princess Victoria also attended.
Information derived from maritime surveillance may be used to ensure
more secure sea transport, monitor fishing activities, uncover
environmental problems and prevent human trafficking. One problem is
that information exchange between countries or between civilian and
military actors does not always work as it should. The meeting on
Monday addressed, among other things, how this cooperation can be
improved. To inspire them, ministers were shown a demonstration of
maritime surveillance cooperation in the Baltic Sea region.
“Today’s discussions show that there is broad consensus on the
importance of effective cooperation between countries and civilian and
military actors when it comes to maritime surveillance. Experience from
the system used by the Baltic Sea countries, which we have studied here
today, can be used in the EU’s operations in Somalia, for example”,
said Javier Solana in connection with the press conference after the
meeting.
“I am pleased that the Swedish Presidency has received strong support
to proceed with conclusions to the Council in November. It is also very
pleasing that Spain today showed already that they are ready to move
the issue forward during their Presidency”, said Minister for Defence
Sten Tolgfors at the press conference.
Civilian and military cooperation is also necessary to strengthen the
EU’s ‘capability development’. Capabilities are different forms of
support used to contribute to peace and security in conjunction with
military operations or as preventive measures within the context of the
EU’s crisis management. They may involve transportation, health care or
IT systems. At the meeting on Monday, the defence ministers discussed
how to coordination between civilian and military actors can be
improved in this area.
“Civilian and military operations often have similar resource
requirements. If we coordinate the operations better, we can avoid
duplications and create synergy effects. Today’s discussions show that
there is strong support among the EU countries for continuing efforts
in this area”, said Sten Tolgfors at the press conference.
Source: http://www.isria.com/pages/28_September_2009_155.php
