Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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40. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will block progress towards the establishment of a common European military headquarters in order to prevent the further militarisation of the EU. [15485/17]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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There are no plans at EU level to establish a common EU military operational headquarters. As I previously advised the House, there have been proposals around for some time, that the EU should establish a joint operational headquarter capacity to support the planning and conduct of its civil and military operations. A permanent joint civil-military operational headquarters, appropriately configured, could potentially deliver more effective and responsive CSDP operations in support of the UN and international peace and security, a position which Ireland supports drawing together the civil and military aspect of crisis management operations in the comprehensive approach.

The proposal currently being advanced is the development of civil/military planning and conduct capabilities, coordinated through a joint coordination cell, to improve the EU's capacity to react in a faster, more effective and more seamless manner. The proposal is to build on existing structures with a view to enhancing civilian-military synergies to support the effective planning and operation of civilian and non-executive military CSDP missions, as part of the EU's Comprehensive Approach.

In effect this means the creation of a Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC), within the existing EU Military Staff structures in Brussels, which will be responsible at the strategic level for the operational planning and conduct of non-executive military missions working under the political control and strategic guidance direction of the Political and Security Committee. Non-executive military missions are capacity building, training and advisory missions.

This newly created MPCC will work in parallel and in a coordinated way with the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) supported by a Joint Support Coordination Cell which brings together the civilian and military expertise in key mission support areas. This will further strengthen and enable effective civilian/military coordination and cooperation in the operational planning and conduct of CSDP civilian and non-executive military missions.

I do not believe that it represents an increase in or a move towards militarisation of the EU. The Lisbon Treaty provides that the Common Security and Defence Policy “shall provide the Union with an operational capacity drawing on assets, civil and military. The Union may use them on missions outside the Union for peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. The performance of these tasks shall be undertaken using the capabilities provided by the Member States”.

I am satisfied that the issue of having an effective joint planning and operational capacity to support civilian and non-executive military CSDP missions is one which is reasonable, particularly having regard to the EU’s comprehensive approach to international crises.