New Europe: EU Defence gears to make big strides in 2007

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EU Defence gears to make big strides in 2007

The European Union is set to take big strides in forging a stronger global security role in 2007, including plans for a stepped up presence in Kosovo and Afghanistan, General Henri Bentegeat, the head of the bloc’s influential military body said January 16. Bentegeat, a French General who was appointed chairman of the EU military committee which advises the bloc’s foreign and security chief Javier Solana, told reporters the bloc was also planning to help the African Union set up a stand-by military force. The General said the EU had made rapid progress on establishing an independent European defence policy in 2006.

Successful EU military operations conducted last year included the deployment of troops to oversee elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, work on ensuring the full operational capability of EU battle groups and the creation of a military operation command centre in Brussels. Bentegeat said European security and initiatives planned in 2007 would cover even more civilian missions, including in Kosovo and in Afghanistan.