Chairman of the European Union Military Committee General Mikhail Kostarakos Speech at NATO MC/CS "Military Contribution to Security and Stabilisation in Europe's Southern Neighbourhood" Brussels, 16 January 2018 Generals, Admirals, Following the excellent intelligence update we just had, I will present you with the European Union's approach to stabilisation in Europe's Southern neighbourhood. I will explain how the Union, as a complete international actor puts in use the sum of the tools at its disposal to achieve this task. I will also explain how the military, although a small gear in this mechanism, is an indispensable one. The EU Global Strategy, presented in June 2016, marked a shift in European Union's approach to external crises and conflicts. Until then, the term "Comprehensive Approach" was used to describe an effort to bring together all the available tools within the Union, in order to provide a holistic response to crises in our neighbourhood. The Global Strategy introduced the term "Integrated Approach", which took the concept of a joined-up effort, a step further. Realising that coordination and complementarity of efforts is needed not only at the Union-level but at a much wider, global level as well, the Integrated Approach signals the willingness and the commitment- of the Union to cooperate with other interested national, regional, multinational or international actors and stakeholders in order to produce comprehensive assistance packages, avoiding duplications, optimising the use of assets and maximising output. It also means a more joined-up approach to the phases as well as effective use of all available instruments. To this end, the European Union produces unique and comprehensive proposals for building more effective partnerships between the European Union and its neighbours. Under the European Neighbourhood Policy, which sets out the framework, the EU's effort is built around four key priorities:
-2- Good Governance, Democracy, Rule of law and Human Rights Economic Development Migration and Mobility Security. These priorities cover almost the full spectrum of the functions of a government. In a nutshell, the first priority is about promoting the rule of law and democratic values, including justice reform and independence of the judiciary, the fight against corruption, protection of human rights, fundamental freedoms and civil society dialogue. In general, the European Union's engagement with the Southern neighbourhood can be described as a series of concentric circles, going from the narrowest and more specific (bilateral cooperation programs) to the regional and then to the neighbour-wide ones. Furthermore, Cross-Border cooperation programmes are designed for the countries with which EU shares a sea crossing (Mediterranean Sea Programme) (Figure 1). Figure 1: EU Levels of Approach To boost sustainable Economic Development, the second priority and a key factor to any successful stabilisation effort, the European Union seeks to foster entrepreneurship and create an attractive business climate especially
-3- for SMEs. This effort goes hand in hand with a parallel effort to develop human capital, through education, but also to establish favourable market conditions, develop the digital economy, in order to create jobs and produce economic growth. It has to be mentioned that the EU's approach to each of its partners also reflects that particular country's own level of commitment to this partnership. The challenges of the refugee crisis and irregular migration (Map 1) remain high on the political agenda and have been a key aspect of the EU's work with its neighbouring countries. Here, the European Union is enhancing efforts to increase cooperation on migration in North Africa countries through increased political dialogue as well as deepened technical and financial cooperation. Map 1: Sea Arrivals in Europe in 2017 All these and other actions are supported by the provision of substantial financial assistance to support the neighbourhood. In 2016 the assistance under the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) amounted to commitments of over EUR 2.3 billion.
-4- Turning to the domain that is the most relevant to us, Security, the European Union is actively engaged in the Southern Neighbourhood. Cooperation with the Southern partners on tackling terrorism and preventing radicalisation leading to violent extremism has been strengthened. On the political level, upgraded security and counter-terrorism dialogues, and highlevel visits have been conducted in the region, specifically in Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Egypt leading to concrete results. Security Sector Reform is key to the long-term stabilisation of the neighbourhood, both as a means of building up accountable institutions and as part of peace and confidencebuilding measures. In order to counter terrorism financing, an EU programme on anti-money laundering has been offered to southern partners. The fight against cybercrime is another area where EU provides support to its partners. Seven CSDP civilian missions operate in the area, underpinning the Union's deep interest in the region (Map 2). Focusing on the military aspects of CSDP, the main bulk of European Union's effort is directed towards the Southern neighbourhood. Five out of six EU military missions and operations are deployed to Europe's south. In Mali, the Central African Republic, Somalia and the Mediterranean Sea, they constitute the military element of the Integrated Approach, providing training and advice to the local forces. Map 2: CSDP Missions and Operations 1
-5- A large number of other countries also show interest in enhancing security in these areas and they also operate there; their number keeps on increasing. Cooperating with them is both a necessity and a challenge. It is no secret that Force Generation faces certain difficulties that affect, to a greater or lesser degree, the efficiency of our Missions and Operations. But to cover our shortfalls is not what makes cooperation with other actors on the ground necessary. Returning back to the concept of Integrated Approach analysed before, seeking cooperation is the new norm covering EU's engagement with the world. The most telling example is the cooperation with NATO. Actually, it is a cooperation that in the near past resulted in securing the Sea Lines of Communication off the Coast of Somalia against piracy, or providing a Safe and Secure Environment in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is an ongoing cooperation that is bearing fruits in the Mediterranean Sea, against smugglers and human traffickers. The European Union provides financial support to regional actors, recognising the added value they have and making easier or even possible for them to contribute to the effort. This has been the case with AMISOM in Somalia, where the European Union covers operational, training, and payroll costs. This model is now replicated in the Sahel, where the European Union made EUR 50 million available for support measures in the G5 Sahel countries to help step up security there and boost cross-border cooperation. The envisaged Joint Force will comprise troops from Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad, and will operate in all five countries. The initiative is expected to step up action on security, particularly in border areas. Engaging with and enabling these regional actors assume and perform certain tasks is very important form an EU perspective, considering that regional problems require regional answers. At the same time, it helps build the feeling of ownership of the solutions offered. The European Union also cooperates with other nations, mainly the United States, but also India and South Korea, that have forces operating in the same area. This cooperation has produced tactical results on the ground (namely, in the waters off the Coast of Somalia) but also helped establish a certain level of trust and understanding between the corresponding parties. The European Union, as global security actor welcomes any proposals for cooperation that will promote security and stabilisation.
-6- Admirals and Generals, Wrapping up, these are the main points of my presentation: The European Union applies an Integrated Approach to external crises and conflicts, making full use of its wide array of tools, in a "whole-of government" approach. This approach is multidimensional, multi-phased, multi-lateral and multi-level, seeking and welcoming cooperation and coordination with other national, regional and international actors. The military plays a modest but important role in this approach, in two levels; Thank you. o Firstly, executing its mandate and either providing a Safe and Secure Environment or providing advice, training and education to the local law enforcement and defence institutions, so that they become capable of providing security to their own people; o Secondly, establishing linkages with other security providers operating in the same region, with the main goal to jointly improve stability and the living conditions of the people in these areas in order for them to choose to stay in their countries, working for and contributing to the improvement of the quality of their lives and the progress of their countries. Edited by Captain (Hellenic Navy) Vasileios Loukovitis