POOLING and SHARING SEMINAR

September 19-20, Cracow, POLAND

WRAP-UP

Pooling and sharing seminar wrap up

The subject of P&S, one of the four priority areas of Polish Presidency in the CSDP,1 has been picked up to stress the importance of multinational cooperation as a response to the need for innovative approach in capability development in the time of financial austerity. The efforts by the Polish Presidency are aimed at continuing the work so far, initiated during the Ghent ministerial and then continued by the Hungarian Presidency as well as in the framework of the Weimar Triangle (seminars in Ulm and Paris). They also draw from the provisions of the High Representative report from July, envisaging the review of the P&S process this Autumn. The seminar consisted of three panels, devoted to political assessment of the P&S process, deeper examination of specific areas of cooperation and to the consideration how to ensure consistency of efforts by the EU and NATO. The politically oriented discussion was underpinned by the examination of concrete opportunities. The seminar gathered representatives from capitals, EU institutions, NATO and independent thinkers. In the first panel, the political parameters of the Ghent process, the so-far results and its prospects, have been evaluated. The main political drivers for P&S cooperation have been identified.2 The main conclusion from this part is that there is an obvious need to continue with the P&S process - there exists no viable alternative to this strand of work. The participants agreed that this must be a member states-driven process. Political will and support in capitals remain crucial. The engagement of ministers is of paramount importance - the issue was high at the ministerial agenda in Wroclaw. The EU institutions, first and foremost EDA, can serve as a facilitator (or a hub), but cannot replace efforts at national level. It was stressed, at the same time, that achieving progress in the longer run requires the work on P&S be properly linked to in fact, incorporated into the national planning processes. Only this can ensure effective (and sustainable) translation of political ambitions into concrete results. The expected results from this initiative are twofold: resource savings and better availability of key capabilities. It was, however, underlined that expected savings may first require some investment (or re-investment later on), especially in resources-de-

The other ones are: increasing flexibility and usability of EU Battlegroups, improving the planning and conduct capability for EU missions and operations, and intensifying the cooperation with EUs Eastern partners. 2 Political will, economic pressure& common interest (win-win situation), time perspective, mutual understanding & trust, determination (overcome obstacles).
Polska Prezydencja w UE Polish EU Presidency Prsidence polonaise de lUE

POOLING and SHARING SEMINAR

September 19-20, Cracow, POLAND

WRAP-UP

manding areas, like air-to-air refuelling, air transport or planning and conduct capabilities.

Further efforts in this regard must lead to an intensified practical cooperation, aimed at realisation of specific projects. The opportunities for strengthened cooperation have been examined in more detail during the second panel. The most promising of them are air-to-air refuelling, tactical & strategic air transport, medical support, maritime surveillance, satellite communication. Also, the results to date of the Nordic cooperation, as well as the opportunities related to the European Air Transport Command, the proposed Multinational Joint HQ in Ulm, and other projects, have been presented and discussed. The need for pragmatic cooperation with the efforts undertaken within the Smart Defence initiative in NATO was the main message from a third panel. it was highlighted that the slightly different methodology of both organisations (bottom-up approach in the EU and ACT-coordinated process in NATO), is not an obstacle for ensuring consistency and avoiding unnecessary duplication. The participants agreed that the cooperation at expert level develops in a promising direction. Libya provided a positive spin to these efforts. Intensified staff-to-staff contacts can serve as an effective platform for complementarity in this regard. Better synchronisation would only make those efforts more effective. The presentation given during the seminar are available on the attached CD.

Polska Prezydencja w UE Polish EU Presidency Prsidence polonaise de lUE