ESDP: AFGHANISTAN MISSION
Letter from Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister
for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
The Presidency has told us that the Joint Action
to establish a European Security and Defence Policy mission in
Afghanistan is to be considered at the 23 April General Affairs
and External Relations Council. However I am currently unable
to deposit an Explanatory Memorandum on this matter, as I have
not yet received a draft of the Joint Action. As you will know
from previous correspondence this is an extremely important mission
and one I am keen to see deploy soon. I will ensure an Explanatory
Memorandum is sent to you as soon as I receive a draft of the
Joint Action, which I anticipate will be during the parliamentary
recess. But as there will be very limited time for you to consider
this after the recess, I am writing to you now to give you as
much information as possible. I trust this will allow you to consider
the Explanatory Memorandum at your meeting on 18 April.
SUBJECT MATTER
The Joint Action will establish a civilian European
Security and Defence Policy mission in Afghanistan in the field
of policing with linkages to the wider rule of law. The mission
will support the Afghanistan government extending its authority
and the rule of law throughout the country.
The mission will form part of the overall international
strategy for support to Afghanistan police reform. Specific mission
activity will include support to the Ministry of Interior, and
assistance to the Afghanistan National Police to help develop
national strategies for criminal investigation and civilian police
training. In order to do this the mission will deploy approximately
160 secondees, mostly civilian police. The mission will not have
executive functions and will confine its activities to mentoring,
training and advising. Given the scale of the task, the mission
is likely to be agreed for at least 3 years, but subject to 6
monthly reviews and annual agreement of the mission's budget.
The mission will build on the work of the German
Police Project Office and bring greater coherence to the police
reform efforts of major donors (UK, Canada and Norway) and bring
new resources of Member States such as Spain, Finland and Denmark.
The European Security and Defence Policy mission
is being co-ordinated with the Commission's activities on justice
in Afghanistan to ensure a coherent EU approach. The EU Special
Representative will also provide advice to the head of mission.
SCRUTINY HISTORY
As you will recall, I have written to the Committees
previously, on the possibility of a mission in Afghanistan, on
21 July and 6 December 2006, and 7 February and 7 March 2007.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
I welcome the prospect of a European and Security
Defence Policy Mission in Afghanistan. It is clear that there
is a considerable need for support to the rule of law in Afghanistan
and that the EU is well placed to bring coherence to police reform
efforts. The EU mission and the US (the two major donors in this
field) will determine strategy on police reform with the Government
of Afghanistan.
The mission will also provide important support
to current UK efforts on counter-narcotics. Counter-narcotics
cannot be approached in isolation and I very much welcome the
plan to bring counter-narcotics issues more fully into the wider
rule of law agenda as part of the EU mission's approach.
The security environment in Afghanistan represents
a particular challenge. A fact finding mission has been undertaken
and the planning team are consulting Member States with Provisional
Reconstruction Teams and NATO staff to inform a robust approach
to security, including minimum security operating standards, mandatory
security training and evacuation plans.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
Funding for Common Costs (headquarters, equipment
etc) is met from the Common Foreign Security Policy budget. The
Council Secretariat is still working on the budget, but early
estimates indicate that this will cost at least €40 million.
The UK currently contributes 17% towards the Common Foreign Security
Policy budget, which suggests the cost to the UK would be at least
£4.5 million.
We will confirm our personnel contribution (and
funding for this) once personnel requirements are finalised. As
a strong supporter of the mission, the UK will want to make a
significant contribution.
15 March 2007
Letter from the Chairman to Rt Hon Geoff
Hoon MP
Thank you for your letter of 15 March 2007 providing
the Sub-Committee with advance notice of the planned European
Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mission to Afghanistan. As
you are aware, the Committee takes a close interest in Afghanistan,
in particular any plans to deal with the narcotics problem.
Members of the Committee value highly advance
notice of this kind of forthcoming business on scrutiny items.
In this context we would like to thank you also for your very
helpful letter of 20 March 2007 on "EU documents to be discussed
at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 23 April
2007". We look forward to continuing to receive advance notice
of such scrutiny items in future.
23 April 2007
| 
