49 European Security and Defence College
| (26630)
—
—
| Joint Action establishing a European Security and Defence College
|
| Legal base | Article 14 EU; unanimity
|
| Department | Foreign and Commonwealth Office
|
| Basis of consideration | EM and Minister's letter of 14 June 2005
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
|
| Discussed in Council | 27 June Transport Council
|
| Committee's assessment | Politically important
|
| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
Background
49.1 In his helpful letter and Explanatory Memorandum of 14 June
2005, the Minister of State for Europe (Mr Douglas Alexander)
recalls that the European Security and Defence College (ESDC)
was originally proposed by France, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium
at the so-called "Chocolate" Summit at Tervuren in April
2003, to provide training in what he describes as "the broad
range of political, institutional and operational issues which
are central to ESDP [the European Security and Defence Policy],
with the aim of promoting better understanding of ESDP amongst
the relevant Member State civilian and military personnel".
49.2 He describes its main features as follows:
"The ESDC will be made up of a Steering Committee,
an Executive Academic Board, and an Administrative Secretariat:
· the
Steering Committee will comprise one representative from each
Member State and will, inter alia, establish the annual academic
programme of the ESDC, select the Member State institutes which
will host the ESDC activities, and agree the annual academic programme;
· the
Executive Academic Board will comprise senior representatives
of the institutes providing training each academic year. Its main
role will be to implement the agreed annual academic programme
through the ESDC network, develop curricula, review standards
and prepare evaluation reports;
· the
Administrative Secretariat of the ESDC of up to three staff will
be within the Council General Secretariat (CGS) in Brussels and
carry out administrative support activities in support of the
Steering Committee and the Executive Academic Board; and
· the
training itself will be delivered by the Member State institutions
which make up the network. The EU Institute for Security Studies
will also form part of this network."
49.3 Member States which send personnel for training
in the ESDC will bear the costs incurred. Where a Member State
institution provides training as part of the ESDC network, it
will cover the associated organisational costs. The costs of the
administrative secretariat in the CGS will be covered within the
existing CGS budget, or by Member States which choose to second
staff to work within it.
49.4 The principal courses which the ESDC will deliver
are:
· the
High-level Course, consisting of five week-long residential courses
held in five different Member State institutions, intended for
senior military and civilian personnel; and
· the
Orientation Course, a one-week course to be held around three
times a year, in Brussels, providing a broad introduction to the
ESDP for military and civilian personnel.
The Government's view
49.5 The Minister says that the UK was originally
sceptical, but a pilot course demonstrated "that it will
be an effective means of delivering some of the key elements of
ESDP training". So the Government "engaged with the
initiative to ensure that it is based on a proper assessment of
needs, and does not duplicate existing Member State training provision".
It "has ensured that the ESDC ... will be established as
a 'virtual network' of existing Member State training institutions,
rather than a new 'bricks and mortar' institution. Apart from
the small administrative secretariat within the [Council General
Secretariat] CGS, there will be no common funding for the training
provision. Member States will bear their own costs for the funding
of their students".
49.6 As one of initiators, Luxembourg wanted to establish
the ESDC during its Presidency. The UK supported this, because
it will be hosting a one-week module of the ESDC High- Level Course
during the UK Presidency, at the Joint Services Command and Staff
College, Shrivenham, between 28 November and 2 December. The
Joint Action was agreed at the 27 June Transport Council.
Conclusion
49.7 An originally-sceptical UK has worked hard
to ensure that the European Security and Defence College (ESDC)
will be a "virtual network" aiming to add value at minimal
cost in order to improve the effectiveness of an established policy.
But it seems as though this was not without a struggle. Resistance
was necessary not only to proposals for common funding but also
to the proposal to give the ESDC a legal personality, which would
have undermined the concept of a "virtual" ESDC. Although
no legal or policy questions arise, we felt that a short Report
to the House would be appropriate, to illustrate the constant
battle that has to be fought to restrain expenditure on and the
institutionalisation of activity which can clearly be carried
out effectively at much lower cost. We congratulate the Minister
on the outcome.
49.8 We clear the document.
| 
