Summary : The system should provide defence against all types of missiles. A missile early warning system is being developed across the country. The A-135 system is being upgraded and integrated into the VKO. Missile defence exercises have been intensified across the country, with numerous tests conducted in the last months of 2012 and more planned for 2013. If the organisational and budgetary challenges are met, the VKO will significantly boost Russia's military strength.

Authors : Ioanna-Nikoletta ZYGA under the supervision of Ulrich KAROCK (Policy Department, DG EXPO, European Parliament)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : The global maritime security environment is in the midst of an important transformation, driven by a simultaneous intensification of global maritime flows, the growing interconnectedness of maritime regions, the diffusion of maritime power to emerging powers, and the rise of a number of maritime non-state actors. These changes are having a profound impact on the maritime security environment of the EU and its member states and require an upgrading of the maritime dimension of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This study analysis the impact that the changing maritime security context is having on the EU’s maritime neighbourhood and along the EU’s sea lines of communications (SLOCs) and takes stock of the EU’s existing policies and instruments in the maritime security domain. Based on this analysis, the study suggests that the EU requires a comprehensive maritime security strategy that creates synergies between the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy and the maritime dimension of CSDP and that focuses more comprehensively on the security and management of global maritime flows and sea-based activities in the global maritime commons.

Authors : Timo BEHR, Jyrki KALLIO, Mika AALTOLA, Charly SALONIUS-PASTERNAK, Maija SALONEN (Finnish Intitute of International Affairs, Finland) ; Erik BRATTBERG (Swedish Intitute of International Affairs, Sweden) ; Andreas RASPOTNIK (Trans European Policy Studies Association, Belgium)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : Syrian short range ballistic missiles may reach major Turkish cities in the Anatolian province. Turkey has no own missile defence system. DE, NL and US are the three allies deploying missile defence systems to Turkey. Three major population centres and NATO installations will be under the missile defence shield. Russia, Syria and Iran see the missile deployment as a prelude to a NATO led intervention. NATO's theatre ballistic missile defence capability developed since 2005 is operational since early 2011. A system capable of protecting European population and territory. Europe is the junior partner in missile defence. Effective integration of Russia could reduce tensions and improve missile defence. Anatolian Protector has many advantages, little disadvantages. Engagement generates experience and helps justifying future capability improvements.

Authors : Ulrich KAROCK, Wanda TROSZCZYNSKA VAN GENDEREN and Pekka HAKALA (Policy Department, DG EXPO, European Parliament)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : 2013 budget is again fixed to EUR 30.5 million. Council to EDA: 'do more and better - but with less!' The Council did not manage to establish a long term financial perspective for EDA. The EDA's budget comes from participating Member States' contributions and its progress t is hindered by the unanimity requirement for adopting it. The Council could make EDA a true Union agency funded from the Union budget. The strong and direct command and control of the EDA through the Member States' meeting in the Steering Board would remain. To support EDA, EP could propose to earmark revenue in 2013 to beef up EDA's operational budget.

Authors : Ulrich KAROCK (Policy Department, DG EXPO, European Parliament)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : Proceedings of the Workshop on the security situation of Nagorno Karabakh, held on 20 June 2012 in Brussel.

Authors : Marco SIDDI (Marie Curie Integrated Training Network on EU External Action - EXACT, TEPSA, Belgium)

Committees : Foreign affairs, Security and defence

Summary : The first Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) mission was launched in 2003. Since then the EU has launched 24 civilian missions and military operations. Despite the tendency of military operations to attract more attention, the majority of CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policy) interventions have been civilian missions. Since the beginning the actors involved in CSDP recognised the need to learn from the different aspects of missions and operations. The tools and methodologies to guarantee a successful learning process have evolved over time together with the evolution of CSDP. This study represents a first stock-taking exercise of the lessons learned processes at the EU level. The study is divided in three major components. The first component looks at the available literature on the subject of knowledge management with regard to CSDP missions and operations. The study then draws upon short case-studies from the 21 missions and operations to-date with a specific focus on the lessons identified and (possibly) learned in practice. The study concludes with a number of recommendations targeted at how the lessons learning processes could be improved including specific recommendations on the role of the European Parliament.

Authors : DARI Elisa, PRICE Megan and VAN DER WAL Jense (Clingendael Institute of International Relations, The NETHERLANDS) ; GOTTWALD Marlene and KOENIG Nicole (THE TRANS EUROPEAN POLICY STUDIES ASSOCIATION, BELGIUM)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : Space applications are best suited for dealing with an increasingly expanding concept of security. If, on the one hand, traditional customers are military users, on the other, a wider security and civilian community benefits from space services which are being developed in Europe in line with the evolution of Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) civilian and military missions. The study includes a twofold analysis. First, an analysis of CSDP missions and their operational context to be matched with the main space-based applications. Of course, the EU flagship programmes GMES and Galileo are taken into consideration. Second, an overview of the state-of-the-art of the different space programmes in Europe based on their compatibility with CSDP missions is provided. Building on this analysis, conclusions on the use of space in the context CSDP are drawn, focusing on strengths and weaknesses emerged. Finally, some recommendations addressed to the European Parliament are provided.

Authors : DARNIS, Jean-Pierre (ISTITUTO AFFARI INTERNAZIONALI, ITALY) and VECLANI, Anna (ISTITUTO AFFARI INTERNAZIONALI, ITALY)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : Galileo is the first large space programme and system managed and owned by the European Union (EU). Its strategic value rests on the political, operational, industrial and technological independence that it will guarantee in the field of global navigation and positioning. Although Galileo represents a priority for the European space policy, more than ten years on the declaration of its feasibility, the programme is still far from completion. Galileo has experienced a slow and problematic development due to concurrent and different factors, among which the failure of the envisaged public-private partnership (PPP) approach to financing, the ever increasing costs, the diverging opinions among EU Member States (MS) and within EU institutions, governance problems, and complex international negotiations still ongoing. Given the new shared competence of the EU in space matters established by the Treaty of Lisbon, which paves the way for new EU space activities, the purpose of the study is first to examine specific and characterizing issues related to the management and financing of the Galileo programme, then to draw lessons learnt for future space systems funded out of the budget of the EU.

Authors : Anna C.VECLANI, Jean-Pierre DARNIS and Valérie V. MIRANDA (Security and Defence Department, ISTITUTO AFFARI INTERNAZIONALI - IAI, ITALY)

Committees : Security and defence

Summary : The financial crisis may pose a risk as well as offer an opportunity for the European defence sector: on the one hand, it sounds plausible that shrinking budgets increase the pressure on member states to cooperate and thus overcome the EU’s problems related to capability development and restructuring of the defence industries and markets. On the other hand, national prerogatives still dominate despite a decade of rhetoric and initiatives for more cooperation and less state in EU defence. If this national focus continues to dominate under current financial circumstances, EU member states run the risk to implement cuts in their Armed Forces in an uncoordinated way. As a result, member states might end up with potentially even bigger capability gaps than they have today and hence even less opportunities to implement the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). This study provides a comprehensive and detailed overview on the ongoing impact of the financial crisis on EU Member States defence spending. In addition, it examines the potential of overcoming the need to cut defence spending by greater cooperation in the framework of the European Union and by drawing upon the innovations in the Lisbon Treaty. The study highlights the need to address the challenges of the economic crisis, a growing number of initiatives by various EU countries as well as the opportunities the Lisbon Treaty offers for pursuing an effective defence sector strategy that goes beyond the current incremental approach. The study has been requested to provide Members of the European Parliament, broader defence policy community and European public a first comprehensive overview of the impact of the financial crisis on European defence and at the EU level, as well as its wider impact on the future of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). It includes recommendations to be developed by the European Parliament and decision makers at the national and EU level in order to address the economic crisis whilst ensuring Europe retains defence capabilities to respond to future security challenges.

Authors : MÖLLING, Christian, Research Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik – German Institute for International and Security Affairs, GERMANY BRUNE, Sophie-Charlotte, Research Associate, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik – German Institute for International and Security Affairs, GERMANY

Committees : Security and defence