Summary: EU Council Conclusions on EU Emergency and Crisis Response (Brussels, 15 May 2006)
2727th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting - Brussels, 15 May 2006
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"EU Emergency and Crisis Response - Getting assistance quickly where it is needed
"1. The Council welcomed the Secretary-General/High Representative's proposals to improve the EU's ability to respond to disasters and the co-ordination of transport for the relief efforts, in the context of the Hampton Court follow-up. It noted the document "General Framework for the use of Member States' military or military chartered transportation assets and ESDP co-ordination tools in support of EU disaster response" and agreed on its way ahead. Ministers also heard a presentation from Mr
Barnier on options and recommendations for possible further development of EU capabilities in responding to crises, which are set out in his report to the Presidency and the Commission.
2. Helping citizens in an emergency, crisis or disaster, whether natural or man-made, requires effective delivery of assistance where and when it is needed. In certain cases, Member States are able to offer assistance (notably through EU mechanisms) to respond to an emergency or natural disaster, but have no transport to bring it where it is needed. To this end, the Council, building on the Secretary-General/High Representative's contribution, has today taken first steps to put in place
effective procedures at EU level for identifying potentially available military or military chartered transport capacities, and for coordinating their use as supplementary means when circumstances so warrant.
3. Bearing in mind the specific nature and the principles of humanitarian assistance, the Council, in order to complement civilian means of transport already available through existing mechanisms, notes that Member States may decide to make available on a voluntary basis:
- military-owned strategic air and sea lift capabilities when such capabilities are available;
- military-chartered civilian strategic lift capabilities, in particular under the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution (SALIS) as already decided by one Member State.
This action, in accordance with the UN guidelines on the use of Military and Civil Defence Assets in Disaster Relief and complex emergencies respectively, needs to respect the primary responsibility of the competent authorities of the affected State as well as the overall role and responsibility of the United Nations in coordinating international relief assistance in third countries. It will take due account of the role of the Red Cross, of NGOs and of the existing Community Civil Protection
Mechanism and the Commission department of humanitarian aid (DG ECHO).
4. Once agreed by the Council, detailed procedures to identify potential military owned or military chartered assets will ensure a more rapid match between transport needs with available military transportation capabilities. These procedures will include direct links with duty desks in Ministries of Defence manned 24/7, as well as with the main European air and sealift coordination centres in Eindhoven and Athens. This will ensure better coordination of the use of available assets. An interim
capability will be ensured while this work evolves, making use of the capacity currently provided by the EU Movement Planning Cell and the coordination centres.
5. The Council welcomes the fact that procedures will be put in place between the Council Secretariat and the Commission (in particular the Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) and DG ECHO) to exchange rapidly information on needs and available transportation means which will ensure effective mobilisation.
6. The Council will continue to closely follow this issue and assess progress achieved in the course of 2006."
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