Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Defence if he has participated in any discussions regarding the possible establishment of an Operation Headquarters for Common Defence and Security Policy structures; the financial implications such a development would have in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30060/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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On 23 March 2012, the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union decided to activate, for the first time, an EU Operations Centre in Brussels. The purpose of the Centre is to improve coordination and strengthen civil-military synergies between three Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions in the Horn of Africa. The EU is currently conducting two military operations in the Horn of Africa.

1. Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, which protects humanitarian aid shipments and fights piracy off the Somali coast and

2. EUTM Somalia, which contributes to the training of Somali security forces in Uganda. Ireland plays a leading role in the EUTM Somalia mission contributing ten Defence Forces personnel, including the Mission Commander Colonel Michael Beary.

The third mission, currently in planning is a civilian mission, which will include expert military support personnel, designed to strengthen maritime capacities in the region (EUCAP NESTOR). These three missions fall within the context of the EU Strategic Framework for the Horn of Africa, adopted on 14 November 2011.

The EU Operations Centre has six tasks as follows:-

· support the Civilian Operations Commander in Brussels for the operational planning and conduct of the upcoming EUCAP NESTOR mission;

· support the EUTM Mission Commander, based in Kampala (Uganda) and enhance strategic coordination between EUTM Somalia and the other CSDP missions in the Horn of Africa.

· liaise with Operation EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, whose Headquarters is in Northwood, UK;

· provide support to the EU's Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD);

· facilitate interaction between the Horn of Africa CSDP missions and operation and the Brussels-based structures;

· facilitate coordination and improve synergies amongst EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA, EUTM Somalia and EUCAP NESTOR, in the context of the Horn of Africa Strategy and in liaison with the European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa.

The EU Operations Centre will not have command responsibility, but will fully respect the existing civil and military chains of command for the various missions. The Council appointed Navy Captain Ad van der Linde (of the Royal Netherlands Navy) as the first Head of the activated EU Operations Centre. Capt van der Linde has a dedicated staff of some sixteen personnel. The Operations Centre will be active for an initial period of two years, which may be extended if the Council so decides. Its activities and financing will be regularly reviewed. There are no financial implications for Ireland from the establishment of the EU Operations Centre.