Olivier de Bavinchove, Strasbourg

There is a potential which could be a core military asset for the European Union The Eurocorps, a highly operational multinational headquarters not used by the EU

Interview with Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove, Commanding General, Eurocorps, Strasbourg

The European: General, you have been Commander of the Eurocorps in Strasbourg since 1 July 2011. Just a few weeks ago you brought your troops back safe and sound from a one-year stint in Afghanistan. You were the Chief of Staff of the ISAF mission, as the Commander of a European Army Corps that was conducting its fourth NATO mission. But what about the EU? General de Bavinchove: Born from a French-German political initiative in 1992, the Eurocorps is a rapid reaction corps that is certified as such by NATO and meets the European Union’s requirements. The Eurocorps is fully dedicated to operations and can cover a broad spectrum of missions ranging from stabilisation to coercion. It can be deployed for UN, EU or NATO operations. A so-called SACEUR Agreement was signed with NATO back in January 1993 in order to make the Eurocorps available to the North Atlantic Alliance, which certified it as a rapid reaction corps in 2002. Its deployment in Afghanistan in 2012 confirmed its operational status and gave it credibility in the eyes of NATO.

The European: But there has been no such cooperation between the Eurocorps and the EU. General de Bavinchove: You are right. The Eurocorps was indeed deployed four times with NATO, partially or as a whole in Bosnia (1998), in Kosovo (2000) and Afghanistan (2004 and 2012). In 2007 and 2010 it manned the core of the NATO Response Force (NRF). It is true that Eurocorps has never been used by the EU: but it is quite ready for that. Moreover, if you look closely at the ISAF mission you will see that all EU member states were involved in this 50-nation coalition.

The European: But the 1993 agreement with NATO remains fully valid, whereas the agreement signed the same year between the Eurocorps and WEU has vanished, following WEU’s dissolution after Lisbon. So who in the EU is responsible for the Eurocorps? General de Bavinchove: The Common Committee composed of the Chiefs of Defence (CHODS) and the political directors of the foreign affairs ministries of the framework nations – Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg and Spain – is responsible for the Eurocorps. Over the next two years they are to be joined by a key new framework nation: Poland.

The European: Clearly any Eurocorps engagement requires a decision by each participating nation: it is exactly the same as for NATO missions. But even if there is no executive institution

Lieutenant General Olivier de Bavinchove has been Commander of the Eurocorps, Strasbourg, since July 2011. He graduated from the French Military Academy at Saint-Cyr in 1978 and attended the French Army Command and General Staff College. He was deployed in Afghanistan from October 2011 to January 2013, where he was simultaneously Chief of Staff of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander of the French Forces in Afghanistan. Previously, he was appointed as Chief of Staff of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) between August 2008/2009.

within the EU, should not someone in the EU be in charge of the Eurocorps, at least for planning purposes? After all, the Eurocorps founding text – the La Rochelle Treaty of 1992 – gives it a clearly European character! General de Bavinchove: Our forces have to train within NATO procedures and all European forces have to be interoperable in order to be committed in the framework of either NATO or the EU. I will not enter into the debate about Berlin Plus and the EU C2 capabilities. I can only assess and testify to the benefits of a military structure being able to participate either in a NATO or in an EU C2 organisation.

The European: I would like to come back to your HQ. What are its most important skills and does it have qualities that other HQs do not have? General de Bavinchove: The Eurocorps is by nature fully multinational (the most multinational in its category), fully dedicated to operations and deployable at short notice. Since its creation it has been continuously adapted and modernised: its location in Strasbourg close to such bodies as the European Parliament and France’s National School of Administration and Institute for Political Studies has been a particular advantage in that respect. Moreover, it is the only one to have its own field equipment, which makes it fully sustainable and immediately available.

The European: So finally, then, General, what is the legal basis for the Eurocorps? General de Bavinchove: The 2010 Treaty of Strasbourg gives the Eurocorps full legal and financial autonomy. It is the only

Closing ceremony for the exercise Joint Efforts in May 2013 at the HQ Eurocorps in Strasbourg photo: Eurocorps

unit with such a status, which makes for flexibility and reactivity. Finally, as I already told you, it is directly subordinated to a Common Committee, which facilitates the decision-making process.

T heEuropean: Back to operational considerations. What about the famous French-German Brigade? General de Bavinchove: Eurocorps is the only corps in the High Readiness Force HQ community to have an operational brigade and a multinational command support brigade permanently assigned to it. Indeed, the French-German Brigade, created three years prior to Eurocorps, is permanently assigned to this headquarters. In operations its main task will be to function as an early entry force, the spearhead of the troops under Eurocorps command. With its 6000 troops consisting of French and German combat units and due to its very high operational level it is well adapted for this task.

TheEuropean: Very convincing, General, but how many nations can be supported by your HQ? Wouldn’t it be easier and perhaps more efficient to have only three or five nations? General de Bavinchove: The Eurocorps, which started out as a French-German unit, truly paved the way for Franco-German reconciliation and cooperation while being open to other nations. This is where we stand at present: • Since 1996, the five framework nations share the burden and responsibilities on an equal basis. • The personnel of four associated nations (Greece, Italy, Poland and Turkey) have also been incorporated into the staff. Poland’s integration as framework nation of the Eurocorps will be officially completed in 2015 but in practice it has already joined, since it is directly subordinated to the Chiefs of Defence and already has a significant air operations capacity. This will facilitate the evolution of the corps to the operational level. • Finally, we have offered an associated nation status to the

United States, as well to Romania. This should occur in 2013. The arrival of seven American officers will bring a new level of expertise, which will be much appreciated in a changing environment marked by ever-shrinking resources. TheEuropean: I would like, finally, to come back to your experience in Afghanistan. What are the chances for future stability and what is your wish for the Afghans? General de Bavinchove: Afghanistan today is a deeply traumatised and corrupt society but it has a powerful, dynamic and inventive demography. The insurrection is weak and localised: 80% of population does not suffer from violence because Al Quaeda has only a very residual presence – it is a threat that is moving out of Afghanistan.

TheEuropean: And what about the Taliban? General de Bavinchove: The Taliban can be divided into two different groups: A first group composed of locals, 20 000 farmers who are fighting near their home and who do not represent a high risk for the future of Afghanistan. A second group composed of radicals – 6 000 fighters mainly from the two Shuras of Quetta and Peshawar – with a more powerful network but one which has been considerably weakened. Provided there is political will, the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) will be able to face the threat.

TheEuropean: What challenges will Afghanistan have to face? General de Bavinchove: Well, there are three main challenges. Firstly, the country must absorb the shock caused by the sudden arrival of modernity in Afghan society, creating a gap between generations. It is now time for absorption and “Afghanisation”. Secondly, it needs to fully assume all its state prerogatives: the fight against corruption, which is even more of a strategic threat than the insurrection, the establishment of a fair judicial system which is strongly needed by the Afghan population, bringing the ANSF up to full strength (attrition – recruitment). Thirdly, in the field of governance and development, it must assume a transfer of tasks from ISAF and to be prepared for the 2014 elections.