The Need for Pooling & Sharing
Eurosatory always provides an opportunity to consider the full picture of European defence. That picture is in some respects alarming. Economic storms are battering the walls of Europe, and many are looking to defence cuts as a means of reducing deficits. Yet defence remains the first duty of the state. The world is as uncertain as ever, and threats may reemerge as nations outside Europe develop their economies and militaries. If so, military power (and the technical expertise to build it) cannot be conjured in a month or two; investment must be sustained now, in order that European states may defend themselves and protect their interests in the future. This has become still more urgent in recent years, as the United States engages with Asia, and looks to Europe to take care of itself and become a security provider.
Some solution must therefore be found. Defence is crucial, but barely affordable for each state individually. Closer defence cooperation in Europe is the way forward. It is for this reason that the EU defence ministers have launched the ‘Pooling & Sharing’ initiative. Through this, Europe may have military power commensurate with its global political and economic importance, while retaining cost efficiency.
The Role of the European Defence Agency
Efforts to improve European defence and space capabilities through collaboration have existed for decades. So many projects have provided ad hoc examples of European defence and space cooperation, from Arianne to the A400M, and FREMM frigate. The Common Security and Defence Policy is the product of a steadily building political consensus through the 1990s and 2000s that Europe must cooperate to be able to act on defence, and the European Defence Agency was created in July 2004, to foster this cooperation in the fields of capabilities and the industrial and technological base.
Defence is a particularly sensitive field, and concerns about sovereignty and operational independence are entirely understandable. Consequently the design of the European Defence Agency makes it a unique body within the European Union. First of all, it is the only agency of the Council of the European Union whose Steering Board meets at the ministerial level; this gives its initiatives strong political momentum. Secondly, it brings together the whole capability development process under a single roof, from research to industry to operational deployment. Thirdly, flexibility is built into its structure, with opportunities for participating Member States to both opt in and opt out of projects, and an expert staff supplemented by a network of experts. The EDA’s framework allows all 26 Member States (plus Norway and Switzerland) to cooperate, but it also allows the formation of small, dynamic groups of states for individual projects. The overall ethos is one of facilitation, aiding Member States’ own sovereign efforts.
Achievements
All this has combined to deliver concrete results in a range of areas. We have been delivering multinational training programs for helicopters and tactical air transport. One particular success has been in the field of countering Improvised Explosive Devices, which have been so deadly in Afghanistan. There, we have developed a common conception of the problem and delivered catalytic training programs that directly decrease casualties. Meanwhile, in 2010, the EDA drove the creation of a multinational counter-IED forensic laboratory. That deployed to Afghanistan under a French lead in 2011, and has been making a valuable contribution to ISAF since then.
In the context of Eurosatory, I particularly want to draw attention to our work on Future Land Systems (FLS). Building on our experience working on Future Air Systems and Ammunition, we are working to sustain Europe’s industrial capacity and technical expertise in this vital area. The Agency has established a FLS governmental experts’ network, as well as soliciting the opinions of industry and other relevant multinational bodies. Now, working with all our stakeholders, we are preparing a roadmap for FLS, and an accompanying implementation plan. In developing a common knowledge-base and a common vision of the future, the Agency can help safeguard European defence capabilities, and move forward in delivering concrete results. This is something we will be talking about here at Eurosatory, with a workshop on the 12th June examining the strategic context and the present and future trends of the land platforms and equipment in Europe.
Current Priorities of the European Defence Agency
The EDA has achieved a number of successes so far, but we are still moving forward, driving Pooling & Sharing and working with our civilian counterparts in the EU to find civil-military synergies. One key Pooling & Sharing priority for the next few years is air-to-air refueling. There is a clear capability gap, and a high level of fragmentation, with a large number of different tanker makes and models in operation. Ministers endorsed a political declaration in March 2012, and in April The Netherlands, Germany and France announced that they would take leading responsibilities in a solution that would acquire this capability, as well as ensuring the necessary support for its employment.
Current Agency priorities also include developing modular multinational field hospitals, maritime surveillance capabilities, and the Satellite Communications Procurement Cell. We are building consensus and standardization in equipment, certification and qualifications, to help avoid costly delays, and build a culture of European interoperability. Efforts on capabilities must be supported by a well-functioning EU internal market that takes into account the global dimension of trade issues, and in particular the need for reciprocal openness of markets and the specificity of the defence sector. We are cooperating regularly with the Commission, whose responsibility it is to implement the defence package. Together we will ensure that our Member States and industries – be they big companies or SMEs – benefit from better market opportunities. We have developed in the EDA tools to support this, and we will work with all stakeholders in the evolution of both markets and tools.
Ensuring the proper funding of research for future technologies is especially vital in such economic conditions, and much good work is being done in this field. The EDA’s Joint Investment Programmes use pooled resources to help fill clear gaps in European research capabilities. In the coming months, the EDA will launch a Joint Investment Program for Unmanned Air Sytems as part of the European Framework Cooperation. This will allow participating Member States to pool their resources for UAS technology demonstrations, to maximize value for money for states and deliver certainty to small and medium enterprises.
The Future of Pooling & Sharing
The overall story is one of taking fast action to tackle urgent problems. We are delivering capabilities and cost efficiencies. We are creating a culture of operating together. We are supporting investment in research and technology, and helping guarantee the future of Europe’s technological and industrial base. All of this will feed into high-skilled jobs across the continent, reliable growth in the European defence industry, and the innovation to keep our militaries at the global forefront. The defence industry is without any doubt a key stakeholder in providing innovation, growth and jobs.
The dynamics that have produced serious defence cooperation are here to stay: budgets will be constrained for many years, but we in Europe will still need to defend ourselves and what we stand for. The achievements of the EDA so far are pragmatic and concrete, but there is so much still to do. Eurosatory is an excellent opportunity to examine those tasks, and to solicit the opinions of our stakeholders on these urgent issues. It is this robust discussion that allow us to sustain the work we do, and to help prepare European forces for the challenges of the coming decades.
Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency
Eurosatory always provides an opportunity to consider the full picture of European defence. That picture is in some respects alarming. Economic storms are battering the walls of Europe, and many are looking to defence cuts as a means of reducing deficits. Yet defence remains the first duty of the state. The world is as uncertain as ever, and threats may reemerge as nations outside Europe develop their economies and militaries. If so, military power (and the technical expertise to build it) cannot be conjured in a month or two; investment must be sustained now, in order that European states may defend themselves and protect their interests in the future. This has become still more urgent in recent years, as the United States engages with Asia, and looks to Europe to take care of itself and become a security provider.
Some solution must therefore be found. Defence is crucial, but barely affordable for each state individually. Closer defence cooperation in Europe is the way forward. It is for this reason that the EU defence ministers have launched the ‘Pooling & Sharing’ initiative. Through this, Europe may have military power commensurate with its global political and economic importance, while retaining cost efficiency.
Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the EDA (Photo: EDA)
The Role of the European Defence Agency
Efforts to improve European defence and space capabilities through collaboration have existed for decades. So many projects have provided ad hoc examples of European defence and space cooperation, from Arianne to the A400M, and FREMM frigate. The Common Security and Defence Policy is the product of a steadily building political consensus through the 1990s and 2000s that Europe must cooperate to be able to act on defence, and the European Defence Agency was created in July 2004, to foster this cooperation in the fields of capabilities and the industrial and technological base.
Defence is a particularly sensitive field, and concerns about sovereignty and operational independence are entirely understandable. Consequently the design of the European Defence Agency makes it a unique body within the European Union. First of all, it is the only agency of the Council of the European Union whose Steering Board meets at the ministerial level; this gives its initiatives strong political momentum. Secondly, it brings together the whole capability development process under a single roof, from research to industry to operational deployment. Thirdly, flexibility is built into its structure, with opportunities for participating Member States to both opt in and opt out of projects, and an expert staff supplemented by a network of experts. The EDA’s framework allows all 26 Member States (plus Norway and Switzerland) to cooperate, but it also allows the formation of small, dynamic groups of states for individual projects. The overall ethos is one of facilitation, aiding Member States’ own sovereign efforts.
Achievements
All this has combined to deliver concrete results in a range of areas. We have been delivering multinational training programs for helicopters and tactical air transport. One particular success has been in the field of countering Improvised Explosive Devices, which have been so deadly in Afghanistan. There, we have developed a common conception of the problem and delivered catalytic training programs that directly decrease casualties. Meanwhile, in 2010, the EDA drove the creation of a multinational counter-IED forensic laboratory. That deployed to Afghanistan under a French lead in 2011, and has been making a valuable contribution to ISAF since then.
In the context of Eurosatory, I particularly want to draw attention to our work on Future Land Systems (FLS). Building on our experience working on Future Air Systems and Ammunition, we are working to sustain Europe’s industrial capacity and technical expertise in this vital area. The Agency has established a FLS governmental experts’ network, as well as soliciting the opinions of industry and other relevant multinational bodies. Now, working with all our stakeholders, we are preparing a roadmap for FLS, and an accompanying implementation plan. In developing a common knowledge-base and a common vision of the future, the Agency can help safeguard European defence capabilities, and move forward in delivering concrete results. This is something we will be talking about here at Eurosatory, with a workshop on the 12th June examining the strategic context and the present and future trends of the land platforms and equipment in Europe.
Current Priorities of the European Defence Agency
The EDA has achieved a number of successes so far, but we are still moving forward, driving Pooling & Sharing and working with our civilian counterparts in the EU to find civil-military synergies. One key Pooling & Sharing priority for the next few years is air-to-air refueling. There is a clear capability gap, and a high level of fragmentation, with a large number of different tanker makes and models in operation. Ministers endorsed a political declaration in March 2012, and in April The Netherlands, Germany and France announced that they would take leading responsibilities in a solution that would acquire this capability, as well as ensuring the necessary support for its employment.
Current Agency priorities also include developing modular multinational field hospitals, maritime surveillance capabilities, and the Satellite Communications Procurement Cell. We are building consensus and standardization in equipment, certification and qualifications, to help avoid costly delays, and build a culture of European interoperability. Efforts on capabilities must be supported by a well-functioning EU internal market that takes into account the global dimension of trade issues, and in particular the need for reciprocal openness of markets and the specificity of the defence sector. We are cooperating regularly with the Commission, whose responsibility it is to implement the defence package. Together we will ensure that our Member States and industries – be they big companies or SMEs – benefit from better market opportunities. We have developed in the EDA tools to support this, and we will work with all stakeholders in the evolution of both markets and tools.
Ensuring the proper funding of research for future technologies is especially vital in such economic conditions, and much good work is being done in this field. The EDA’s Joint Investment Programmes use pooled resources to help fill clear gaps in European research capabilities. In the coming months, the EDA will launch a Joint Investment Program for Unmanned Air Sytems as part of the European Framework Cooperation. This will allow participating Member States to pool their resources for UAS technology demonstrations, to maximize value for money for states and deliver certainty to small and medium enterprises.
The Future of Pooling & Sharing
The overall story is one of taking fast action to tackle urgent problems. We are delivering capabilities and cost efficiencies. We are creating a culture of operating together. We are supporting investment in research and technology, and helping guarantee the future of Europe’s technological and industrial base. All of this will feed into high-skilled jobs across the continent, reliable growth in the European defence industry, and the innovation to keep our militaries at the global forefront. The defence industry is without any doubt a key stakeholder in providing innovation, growth and jobs.
The dynamics that have produced serious defence cooperation are here to stay: budgets will be constrained for many years, but we in Europe will still need to defend ourselves and what we stand for. The achievements of the EDA so far are pragmatic and concrete, but there is so much still to do. Eurosatory is an excellent opportunity to examine those tasks, and to solicit the opinions of our stakeholders on these urgent issues. It is this robust discussion that allow us to sustain the work we do, and to help prepare European forces for the challenges of the coming decades.
Claude-France Arnould, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency
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