Paris, 3 December –,Belgian Defence Minister André Flahaut said on Monday that the European Union (EU) must make « considerable efforts » if it is to undertake in optimal conditions more complex military operations than has been the case in the past.
 
Reviewing the Belgian presidency of the EU and the WEU, Mr. Flahaut told the WEU Assembly that in 2003 the EU « should be capable of carrying out all the so-called Petersberg tasks. » At that time, measures should be taken to organise more ambitious operations, to speed up deployment and to reduce the level of risk, he said. Strategically, he added that it was necessary to step up capacity in command and control, communications and intelligence, and maritime and air transport.
 
The minister said that the European Action Plan on Capabilities had been approved by the EU to compensate for shortcomings that will be identified in the future. He welcomed the fact that EU defence ministes had endorsed the idea of improving efficiency and of adopting a concerted European approach.