CEN

The European Committee for Standardization(CEN) André Pirlet, Specialist for Standardization and Research, CEN

CEN is the European Committee for Standardization. It is contributing to the objectives of the European Union and European Economic Area with voluntary technical standards which promote free trade, the safety of workers and consumers, interoperability of networks, environmental protection, exploitation of research and development programmes, and public procurement. Standards are formal high quality documents, containing requirements and frequently also testing methods, for checking the compliance with these requirements. CEN is a non-profit making technical organization set up under Belgian law (www.cen.eu ). CENELEC and ETSI deal respectively with electro-technical and telecommunications standardization. CEN is basically in charge of standardization in all other sectors, including security and defence. In 2000, the European Commission organized a large Conference on ‘European Defence Procurement in the 21st Century: Improving Efficiency and Enhancing Competitiveness; the Role of Standardization’, recognizing that standardization is one of the facets to improve the competitiveness of the European Defence Industry. CEN was invited to support the creation of a European Handbook containing reference to the best standards to be used for defence procurements . CEN set up first a specific Forum (CEN/BT/WG 125) to ensure a continued dialogue amongst interested parties.

Defence Handbook For the drafting of the European Handbook, BT/WG 125 decided to use a CEN Workshop structure for its openness and flexibility. That CEN Workshop (CW 10) is su ed a CEN Workshop Agreement, CWA 15517:2006, the ‘European Standard Handbook’ for Defence Procurement (www.defense-handbook.org ). It contains references to standards and standard-like documents commonly used to support Defence Procurement contracts as well as guidelines on the optimum selection of standards and standard-like specifications in order to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and interoperability. The covered subfields are the following: NRBC detec tors, Ener getic materials, Fuels and lubricants, Batteries, Packaging, Elec trical interfaces, Electromagnetic environment, Environmental testing, Armoured land ve hicle technology, Ammunition, Paints and coatings, Fluid The CEN-System

André Pirlet André PIRLET is Engineer from Liège University (Belgium) and MSc from Oregon State University (USA). He is handling in CEN Special Projects (new developments, including defence) but is mainly involved in reinforcing the links and cooperation between Standardisation and Research. Since 2002 he is a CEN representative in several research projects.

handling systems, Life cycle management (Service life management, integrated logistic support), Life cycle technical documentation, Quality of electric power supply – Portable electric power generators, and Terminology. It is foreseen to update and further expand this Handbook. The European Defence Agency has shown interest for taking the responsibility for the “maintenance” of that Hanbook. The EDA is indeed interested by the enhanced interoperability and efficiency which will be gained by the expanding reliance on the Handbook, in particular for joint operations within or outside the EU.

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Council of the European Union New resolution to take forward European Space Policy

On 26 September the Competitiveness Council (Internal Market, Industry and Research) adopted the resolution “Taking forward the European Space Policy”, which was also approved by the 5th Space Council (European Space Agency Council of Ministers). The resolution highlights the significant advances in the two flagship space programmes of the European Space Policy, Galileo and Kopernikus (GMES). Recently took place the successful launch and in-orbit validation of GIOVE-B, allowing demonstrating critical new technology needed for the performance of the Galileo sys tem and the demonstration at the Lille GMES Forum of pre-operational GMES services. The Council resolution underlined the need to further promote international cooperation e.g. solar system exploration, earth environment and sustainable development. Existing mechanisms for coordinating European expertise and investments in space have to be strengthened, and mechanisms to improve synergies between civil and defence space programmes have to be set up, respecting the specific requirements of both sectors, including their decision-making competences and finance schemes. Climate change, Contribution of Space to the Lisbon Strategy, Space and security, and Space exploration are the four new priority areas for space as defined by the Council, which called for the scientific community (EC, ESA, EUMETSAT) to pool European space observation data relating to climate change more effectively. Furthermore the Council highlighted the “important contribution of space to CFSP/ESDP including the Petersberg tasks, and thus to the security of European citizens.”

European Defence Agency (EDA) 1. EU governments agreed Code of Conduct on Offsets

On 24 October the Steering Board of the European Defence Agency (EDA) agreed a voluntary Code of Conduct on Offsets with the aim to evolve towards more transparent use of offsets. This should help shape the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, whilst reducing reliance on them. The Code will take effect from 1 July 2009 and applies to all compensation practices required as a condition of purchase or resulting from a purchase of defence goods or defence services. As today’s defence market is not perfect and is strongly influenced by political considerations, offsets are a global phenomenon that is unlikely to abate in the foreseeable future. Those global practices have effects on European industry’s global competitiveness. Member States subscribing to the code will neither require nor accept offsets exceeding the value of the procurement contract and are recognising the need to adjust national policies to this provision. National Armament Directors agreed to defer the application of the 100% ceiling until 15 October 2010. EDA Chief Executive Alexander Weis called the new Code of Conduct on Offsets, which addresses the problem on EU level, a "breakthrough decision". He said that "it is a first step in dealing with a very complex issue, knowing that offset is not the only market distortion. We are therefore in parallel working towards the creation of market conditions and a European industry in which offsets may no longer be needed. But, considering the present structure of the European industry and that our market opening efforts are still in their beginning, we need for the short term to focus on evolving offsets, whilst starting to mitigate the adverse impact they have on cross-border competition.” He added that “offset often represents significant additional cost to the customer, which constrains already heavilycommitted defence budgets. We simply cannot afford it. By limiting offset to 100% we want to see defence acquisition budgets focused on what they should be focused on, that is equipping our Armed Forces with the military capabilities they need and not the ones with the highest offset offer.” The Code of Conduct on Offsets sets out a framework for increased transparency on national offset practices and underpinning policies and for using offset to help develop industrial capabilities that are capability driven, world class competent and globally competitive. This should help shape the aspired European Defence Technological and Industrial Base by facilitating the development of globally competitive Centres of Excellence, developing depth and diversity including Smalland Medium-sized companies and avoiding unnecessary duplication.

2. EDA receives the unsolicited industrial proposed solution “HELIBRIDGE” for closing the EU/NATO transport helicopter gap

On 29 September an industrial consortium – CAE Elektronik GmbH (GE), Lom Praha s.p.(CZR) and Selex-Galileo (IT/UK)

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handed over to EDA an unsolicited industrial proposed solution to fill at short notice the EU/NATO transport helicopter gap. This interim proposal which will bridge the shortfall until nations are able to buy new helicopters and European industry is able to deliver them, has at its base the refurbishing of Russian sourced helicopters Mi-17 to NATO standards and the provision of standardized training and simulation. The Czech Defence Minister declared at the Defence Ministers meeting in Deauville, France, beginning of October that the Czech government will support this industrial proposal. The simulation centre – as the eastern cluster of EDA trainings centre concept – will be established in Prague. The refurbishment of helicopters will be directed from Prague allowing participating countries to have direct work-share in their countries.

European Parliament 1. Commission's defence package adopted by Internal Market Committee

On 7 October the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) adopted two reports on the proposed directives included in the so called "Defence Package" that had been proposed by the European Commission in December 2007. The aim of the Commission's proposal is to help the European Union to create a genuine single market for defence equipment. Intra-Community trade in defence related equipment should be facilitated and defence procurement made more transparent and European. Two amended reports, one on public procurement drafted by Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE, DE), the other on transfers of defence related products drafted by Heide Rühle (Greens, DE) were adopted by a large majority in the Internal Market Committee. They will be put to a plenary vote in November.

Background: In the field of defence and security, in principle, Community procurement rules apply. But Member States are allowed to exempt contracts in this field, in particular through Article 296 EC Treaty when their "essential security interests" are concerned. As Member States make extended use of this article, in practice nearly all military procurement is excluded from the scope of Community law. The extended use stands in contrast to the case of law of the Court of Justice limiting the use of these exemptions to exceptional cases. Rapporteur Graff Lambsdorf, whose report clarifies and widens the scope of the proposed directive on public procurement, underlined that the aim of the new directive is to establish "a uniform European legal framework which enables the Member states to apply Community law without jeopardising their security interests." The directive on transfers of defence-related products focuses on simplifying and harmonising the rules for granting licences to transfer military equipment from one country to another. The currently 27 different European regimes prevent the free movement for equipment within the EU. The new directive will create a European system of licences which will be uniform and applicable throughout the EU. The amended text strengthens provisions to guarantee the security of transfers to ensure that arms and other defence-related products do not reach conflict zones. Heide Rühle's report introduce an entire heading of legal remedies aimed to promote transparency and non-discrimination in the award of contracts without prejudice to Member State's need to protect secret information.

Crisis in Congo 2. Karl von Wogau proposes deployment of EU-Battlegroups

After the successful Military Operation of the European Union in Kinshasa 2006, securing Congo’s presidential and parliamentary elections, new fighting has broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu region. It is estimated that more than 200.000 people have fled their homes. Karl von Wogau, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Security and Defense in the European Parliament, fears that the new outbreak of violence in DR Congo risks destabilizing the entire Great Lakes region: “Such a situation is unacceptable. The fighting could destroy the progress we have made in DR Congo in the recent years. The European Union should therefore discuss whether the deployment of the “EU battle groups”, of which two are on stand-by, would be an adequate measure to stop the fighting until an enhanced MONUC operation of the United Nations will be able to fulfil this task.” The European Union is still present in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Security Sector Reform Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (EUSEC RD Congo, since 8 June 2005) provides advice and assistance for security sector reform in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition to this there is a Police Mission (since 2007). The European Union is also very active in the field of development cooperation.

EU missions 3. EUMP Bosnia and Herzegovina

On 24 October EU High Representative Javier Solana congratulated Brigadier-General Stefan Feller on his appointment as the new Head of the EU Police Mission (EUPM) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He succeeds Brigadier-General Vincenzo Coppola at EUMP on 1st November 2008. Brigadier-General Feller was until recently the Head of the “Conduct of Operations” Unit in the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) at the Council. Javier Solana highlighted Mr Feller’s excellent policing background, his international experience as Police Commissioner in the United Nations Mission in the Kosovo (UNMIK) and his responsibilities as Head of the Conduct of Operations” Unit. “He can count on my full support and that of the European Union as a whole in carrying out his new duties” said the High Representative.

EULEX Kosovo: 4. The USA will participate in the EULEX mission in Kosovo

The United States of America and the European Union published a joint press statement on US participation in the EULEX mission in Kosovo. On 22 October 2008 the “Agreement on the Participation of the United States of America in the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo” entered into force, a distinctive case of the US participating in a civilian European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) mission. The joint statement put emphasis on the common desire to work together to support the development of Kosovo’s democratic standards, in particular the strengthening of an independent and multi-ethnic rule of law system. The negotiations were led by EU High Representative Javier Solana for the EU delegation and Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, for the US delegation.

Forces – Future Soldier System International Journalist price for the EADS „Warrior 21“

The Prague industry show “Future Soldiers” of mid-October 2008 proved that the different concepts obviously have made progress with the tendency for practical use and component solutions. The over-sophistication which was observed in the last years seems to be overcome. The future soldiers have to be the capability to be warriors. An international team of journalists from nine countries was invited by the organizer to choose the most innovative among the exposed programmes in connection with the Future Soldier. Nine prices had been allocated, one of them was dedicated to the EADS Defence & Security concept “Warrior 21”. The EADS Soldier modernized Programme (SMP) Solution was selected for its unique and innovative character. Based on open and modular system architecture the SMP sets up a base to fulfil individual requirements by customers. Thereby new technologies, sub-systems preferred by customers or existing legacy equipment can be easily integrated into the whole system. This opens the SMP solution for direct work share in local industries partners. The journalists nearly unanimous saw in the EADS Concept a real chance to equip European soldiers with a unique solution having the advantage that the armed forces of the different nations can individually bring in components of their own choice.

French EU Presidency Informal Defence ministers meeting in Deauville

On 1st and 2nd October, the French Defence minister Hervé Morin invited his 26 EU counterparts to a two-day working meeting in Deauville. Subjects discussed and agreed on were the overhaul of European helicopters and training for the pilots to be deployed to the most demanding theatres of operations, on the basis of the French British initiative from March 2008 (France raised its contribution from •5 million to •8 million) as same as the establishment of a multinational air transport fleet, initially revolving around the A400M aircraft, to increase the EU’s air transport resources. A further point was the set up of a European air and sea group, in case of need, for military naval interventions. This would consist of an aircraft carrier and all the escort and support vehicles, which would be interoperable. The new generation of MUSIS reconnaissance satellites should be developed cooperatively and imagery from current space systems be pooled at the EU satellite center at Torrejon. Furthermore the role of the European Defence Agency (EDA) should be reinforced notably with regard to conducting European armaments and research programmes. The EU meeting on 10 November is expected to formalize the commitments from Deauville.