First EU crisis management exercise started
From 22 to 28 May, the European Union will conduct its first ever crisis management exercise, CME 02, in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
The exercise is an important step forward as the ESDP becomes operational. The aim will be to test out and evaluate a range of the EU's crisis management procedures and structures. A key objective will be to test the framework within which the full range of EU civilian and military instruments is to be co-ordinated as well as the interaction among EU institutions and Member States in a crisis management situation.
The exercise CME 02 will be based on a fictitious crisis scenario leading to the consideration of options for a possible EU crisis management operation under Article 17.2 of the Treaty on European Union (humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking). It will concentrate on the crisis management phases preceding a decision to take action.
The exercise CME 02 will be conducted in Brussels and in national capitals. It will involve Member States, the relevant Council bodies, the Secretary-General/High Representative, the Commission and the EU Satellite Centre. Consultations with the non-EU European NATO members and other candidate countries for accession to the EU are foreseen. UN, OSCE and NATO representatives will be invited to observe the conduct of the exercise.
By testing the crisis management structures and a key part of the procedures developed by the EU over the last months, the exercise CME 02 will be a further step in the development of the ESDP. Following the declaration on operationality at the December 2001 Laeken European Council and the decision taken in March 2002 for the EU to establish a police mission in Bosnia-and-Herzegovina as of 1 January 2003, and with the prospect of possible further missions, the exercise will contribute to further enhancing the EU's preparedness in the area of crisis management.
For more information: Jaana Teckenberg, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, tel. +358 9 1605 5660 and Heikki Savola, Research Officer, Ministry of Defence, +358 9 1608 8175