The agenda of the third working session featured the development of the military capabilities of the European Union and the European Defence Agency. Discussions on military capabilities focussed on the „Headline Goal“ process, the Rapid Response Capability and the Capability Development Plan.
Minister Jung stated that during the German Council Presidency the „Headline Goal“ process would be taken forward in close coordination with all Member States. The first goal has already been achieved: the preparation of the Force Catalogue 2007 with the contributions of the new Member States Bulgaria and Romania. The definition of the structure of the Progress Catalogue, the analysis of the declared forces and capabilities for existing deficits and surpluses and the development of methods to evaluate the operational implications are the subject of current work.
As the next point the Minister addressed the development of the Rapid Response Capability. The EU Battle Groups have been fully operational since the beginning of this year. In the medium-term the preconditions for rapid crisis reaction with contributions of all Services should be developed. The aim was to expand the range of options for graduated action using all available military assets. This purpose is served by the revision of the EU Military Response Concept (MRRC) suggested by the Presidencies of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia.
The key was the development of efficient mechanisms to provide Rapid Response Forces including elements of all Services. Jung emphasized that this was not aimed at expanding capability requirements or setting up new structures or standby arrangements.
The third item on the agenda was the Capability Development Plan. At the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers in Levi during the Finnish Presidency the European Defence Agency was tasked to develop this plan. The purpose of this plan was to combine short-term capability requirements, medium-term plans and long-term capability demands in the form of a matrix.
Finally, the Minister addressed the European Defence Agency. He underlined the importance of a competitive European Defence Technological and Industrial Base which he considered the special challenge for the year 2007. An efficient and reliable defence industry was indispensable for the operational capability of armed forces. The international operations of the European Union and NATO demonstrated the importance of equipment for mission accomplishment.
A European Defence Technological and Industrial Base had to be oriented towards the military needs of the armed forces. Therefore the military needs of the Member States had to be coordinated on the basis of the growing number of combined operations. This task had to be performed by the European Defence Agency. The security of supply with defence equipment had to be strengthened by reliable agreements between the Member States of the European Union.
