John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 1777: To ask the Minister for Defence if he will report on the meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Brussels on 14 November, 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2936/07]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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A meeting of EU Defence Ministers in GAERC formation took place in Brussels on 13 November, 2006. In tandem with the Defence Minister's meeting, there was a Ministerial level meeting of the EDA Steering Board.

The meeting began with a discussion on the development of Military Capabilities. The Director General of the EU Military Staff (DGEUMS) updated Ministers on the process towards the development of Headline Goal 2010. Ministers heard that EU Battlegroups will achieve full operational capability in January 2007 with two Battlegroups continually on stand-by for 6 month periods. Commitment are fully in place up to the end of 2008 and for the first semester of 2010. Among other issues discussed was the Maritime Dimension of ESDP. DGEUMS informed Ministers that an overview paper on the Maritime Dimension Study would be completed by the end of 2006. Ministers were also informed of the development of the Rapid Response Air Initiative (RRAI) study. This study is to bring forward proposals allowing for the rapid generation of the air capabilities listed in the Headline Goal 2010. The study is due to be completed by end-2007. DGEUMS advised Ministers that a proposal by France on Sharing Training Facilities within the EU would provide the opportunity for EU Member States to share national military training and education facilities. The initiative aims at reinforcing ESDP and enhancing interoperability.

The meeting also discussed EUFOR RD Congo mission, which was launched in support of MONUC, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The effectiveness of the EU mission in supporting MONUC was instrumental to the success of the recent elections in the DRC. On the issue of Civil Military Co-ordination (CMCO), the Presidency reported on the outcome of the CMCO Seminar held on the 7th and 8th September, which stressed the importance for improved sharing of information amongst all EU actors so as to increase the overall effectiveness and coherence of the EU's contribution to crisis management operations.

At the meeting of the EDA Ministerial Steering Board, the Agency's Financial Framework 2007 — 2009 was discussed. While the Budget 2007 had been agreed in principle at the Preparatory Committee on 3 November (and agreed by the Steering Board on this occasion), agreement was not reached in relation to the Agency's Financial Framework 2007-2009. Ireland together, with a number of other member States, could not support the level of increase in the amount of the operational budget being sought by the Agency, which would see a rise from €5 million in 2007 to €10 million in 2009 in the R&T Operational Budget. Ireland, in tandem with a large number of other member States, is of the view that, for the most part, R&T defence projects which do not have general application, should be funded through the ad-hoc project mechanism by those member States which have an interest in the particular project and not through the general operational budget. The general operational budget should mainly be used to fund initiatives which are of common interest to the member States as a whole. Against this background and in the absence of a detailed work programme for the framework period, Ireland could not support the Financial Framework proposal.

The Steering Board approved the work programme 2007 and agreed on a major Joint Investment Force Protection Project as well as a programme for the development of Software Defined Radio (SDR). The Steering Board also agreed to the revision of the Financial Rules of the EDA and the modalities for the establishment of the EDA Staff Committee. In relation to a discussion on Indicators and Strategic Targets, Ireland suggested that, in tandem with the further work proposed on the strategic targets, work on the indicators and on the purpose and meaning of these indicators should continue with a further report to the Steering Board in May 2007.