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Today, EU leaders review the €5 billion "European Peace Facility", aka EPF
Is this the end of the Europe Peace project? Why is this called a "peace facility" when it enables supplying fragile countries with lethal weapons?
A thread meant to shed some light on the #EPF
Is this the end of the Europe Peace project? Why is this called a "peace facility" when it enables supplying fragile countries with lethal weapons?
A thread meant to shed some light on the #EPF
Europe was founded as a post WW2 peace project. In its foreign policies, #EU has traditionally prioritized bottom-up, society-building strategies.
In fact, the EU Treaty actually prohibits the EU budget from being used for the provision of arms. This is why EPF is off-budget
In fact, the EU Treaty actually prohibits the EU budget from being used for the provision of arms. This is why EPF is off-budget
But with Brexit, Crimea, NATO, new transnational threats, there's been a shift.
In 2017, HRVP announced the EPF to "step up the EU's ability to preserve peace, prevent conflicts, & strengthen international sec"
Borrell said "EU must be 'less angelic' " https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1233509431633162240?s=20
In 2017, HRVP announced the EPF to "step up the EU's ability to preserve peace, prevent conflicts, & strengthen international sec"
Borrell said "EU must be 'less angelic' " https://twitter.com/POLITICOEurope/status/1233509431633162240?s=20
EPF aims to streamline and expand 2 existing mechanisms:
1/ the Africa Peace Facility - supporting Africa-led peace support operations, i.e. AMISOM
2/ Athena: off-budget mecanism used to fund Common Security and Defence Policy military missions i.e. #EUTM in Mali, Somalia
1/ the Africa Peace Facility - supporting Africa-led peace support operations, i.e. AMISOM
2/ Athena: off-budget mecanism used to fund Common Security and Defence Policy military missions i.e. #EUTM in Mali, Somalia
With #EPF, there are 4 main changes to expect:
1/ Geographical scope - EPF will go beyond Africa
2/ Costs covered: new "common costs" will be supported by EPF, increasing the share of costs supported jointly by member states
1/ Geographical scope - EPF will go beyond Africa
2/ Costs covered: new "common costs" will be supported by EPF, increasing the share of costs supported jointly by member states
3/ Train and Equip: EPF authorizes transferts of military equipement such as uniforms, lethal armement, ammunition
4/ EPF can support third-country and international orgs-led operations : so, not just #AU-led ops, but also UN-led or Somalia-led
4/ EPF can support third-country and international orgs-led operations : so, not just #AU-led ops, but also UN-led or Somalia-led
Institutional lead shifts from the Commission (DG DEVCO) to #EUCO. The EU Council will have the decision-making power and control over EPF.
- Rules of unanimity will apply.
- no formal involvment of the Parliament
- Day to day management delegated to @EEAS
- Rules of unanimity will apply.
- no formal involvment of the Parliament
- Day to day management delegated to @EEAS
If you want to learn more, I recommend these two readings by @ECDPM @MatthiasDen @volker_hauck
https://ecdpm.org/publications/latest-european-peace-facility-african-union/
https://ecdpm.org/publications/uncharted-path-towards-european-peace-facility/
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https://ecdpm.org/publications/latest-european-peace-facility-african-union/ https://ecdpm.org/publications/uncharted-path-towards-european-peace-facility/END/
