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EDA renews Cooperation Arrangement with the Athena Mechanism

EDA News - Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:41

EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq and Hans-Werner Grenzhäuser, the Athena Administrator, have signed an arrangement renewing the framework for future cooperation between EDA and Athena.

The Cooperation Arrangement signed on 1 February 2019 aims at replacing the previous arrangement which was signed on 27 February 2015 and was valid for a limited period. It offers the option for any CSDP Operation/Mission Commander to call upon EDA to provide technical and overall administrative support for their most complex procurement procedures. The full text of the arrangement is available here.

Under the previous arrangement, the Agency has supported the EU Training Mission in Mali for the procurement in Europe of a medical incinerator between May 2015 and February 2016. EDA also supported operation EUFOR ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a cost-benefit analysis of camp management in the Sarajevo Camp Butmir from July to October 2015.

In addition, the Agency supports CSDP military operations and missions with other projects as well as contracted support pre-mission solutions. On the project side this has so far included cyber awareness seminars, maritime surveillance, personnel management as well as management of geospatial information. Contracted support reaches from satellite communications to wider logistics support. 

This has already been the case for CSDP military operations in the Central African Republic (EUFOR RCA and later EUTM RCA), the Mediterranean Sea (EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia), Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR Althea), Mali (EUTM Mali), Somalia (EUTM Somalia and EUNAVFOR Atalanta). 

Most recently, EDA also started supporting the newly established Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC) with contracted communication services, and it is supporting CSDP civilian missions as well.
 

The Athena Mechanism

Athena is the mechanism established to administer the financing of the common costs of European Union operations having military or defence implications governed by Council Decision 2015/528/CFSP. The Council Decision allows for arrangements to be negotiated with Union bodies to facilitate procurement and/or financial aspects of mutual support in operations in the most cost-effective manner.
 

More information:   

Debate: Brexit: what to do about the Irish border?

Eurotopics.net - Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:19
May will meet Juncker and Tusk today, Thursday, to discuss whether there is still any scope for an orderly Brexit. The main bone of contention is the backstop mechanism for guaranteeing an open border on the island of Ireland. The EU has made it clear that the backstop is not up for negotiation - and many commentators also stress that the solution to the border issue isn't to be found in Brussels.
Categories: European Union

Debate: Erdoğan and Tsipras: a strategic alliance?

Eurotopics.net - Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:19
Greek Prime Minister Tsipras has visited Turkish President Erdoğan. Despite many bones of contention such as Cyprus, natural gas reserves in the Mediterranean and the extradition of Turkish soldiers currently in Greece, the two statesmen sought harmony. The press sees little reason for joy nonetheless.
Categories: European Union

Debate: Siemens-Alstom merger stopped

Eurotopics.net - Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:19
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has blocked a merger between the train divisions of Siemens and Alstom. The producers of the ICE and TGV wanted to join forces to compete against their Chinese rivals and had the backing of the governments in Paris and Berlin. Are the Brussels competition watchdogs making the right decision?
Categories: European Union

Debate: EU chief prosecutor: Is Kövesi right for the job?

Eurotopics.net - Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:19
The new European Chief Prosecutor is to take office in 2020. The leading candidate for the post is the former chief prosecutor of Romania's anti-corruption agency (DNA), Laura Codruța Kövesi. But Romania's justice minister apparently wants to prevent her appointment and has said he will inform his European colleagues about alleged abuses committed by Cövesi. In Romania this personal affair has taken on major dimensions for the government and for the people.
Categories: European Union

Debate: Russian textbook not patriotic enough?

Eurotopics.net - Thu, 02/07/2019 - 12:19
Russia's Ministry of Education has taken an economics textbook that has been used in upper secondary education for more than 20 years off its list of recommended books. The author was requested to make his book more patriotic: criticism of government decisions was inappropriate and the current economic policy was to be commended, he was told. Commentators say the state is interfering in matters that don't concern it.
Categories: European Union

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