BRUSSELS: In what was described as an important political step
for European defense cooperation, the 15 governments of the European Union
agreed Wednesday to send a joint peacekeeping force to Congo to help
contain ethnic violence.
The 1,400-member force, which was authorized by the United Nations last
Friday, will mark the first time that the European Union carries out a
military operation without help from the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization. It is also the first EU military operation outside of
Europe.
"This is politically very important for the European Union," Javier
Solana, the Union's foreign policy chief, told reporters in Brussels.
Solana said France would lead the operation and that "the majority" of
other EU members would contribute.
But it was unclear Wednesday what kind of role these other European
countries would play in the French-led initiative. A German government
spokesman told Reuters that Berlin would not send combat troops because of
commitments elsewhere. No other EU countries had announced their plans as
of late Wednesday.
Solana described the mission as an emergency "bridging" operation
designed to help fill a gap in UN scheduling. "It will have a limited
mandate, both geographically and timewise," Solana said. "Our objective is
to help stabilize the situation."
Formal EU approval of the operation will take place Thursday, Solana
said.
France plans to send 1,000 peacekeepers for the mission, which is
scheduled to end Sept. 1, according to Michele Alliot-Marie, the French
defense minister. Diplomats say other countries outside the EU may also
contribute troops, perhaps including Canada and South Africa.
"The French are keen to maximize the European side of this force," said
Steven Everts, a defense expert at the Center for European Reform in
London.
The first peacekeepers are expected in the city of Bunia this weekend
and are taking over from an existing force 750 UN peacekeepers from
Uruguay.
The EU troops will be backed by French Mirage 2000 aircraft as well as
mechanized units.
The European Union is currently debating its future plans for defense
and foreign policy cooperation at the Union's constitutional convention;
the Congo mission will provide a real-life test case for this closer
defense ties.
The EU sent about 400 peacekeepers to Macedonia in March, but that
mission included planning and logistical support from NATO.
Earlier this year the Union said its "rapid-reaction force" of 60,000
troops was ready for peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.
A spokesman for the EU's head office said the Congo mission involved
"considerable risks" for the EU force. "The situation is anything but safe
or stable at the moment," he said.
