2.5. EEAS Crisis Response Mechanism (Pedro Serrano

2.5. EEAS CRISIS RESPONSE MECHANISM

by Pedro Serrano

The EEAS Crisis Response Mechanism (CRM) is an internal EEAS procedure consisting of arrangements and structures for responding in a coordinated and synergic way to crises and emergencies – including hybrid threats – of an external nature or with an external dimension, potentially or actually impacting the interests of the EU or any Member State.

WHAT IS A CRISIS?

For the purposes of the CRM, a crisis or an emergency is a sudden, serious deterioration of the political, security and/or economic situation or an event or development in a given country or region that might have an impact on the security interests of the EU or the security of EU personnel or citizens.

Responses to crises and emergencies implemented through the CRM should envisage the use of all available resources in a coordinated and synergic manner, in line with the EU’s comprehensive approach.

ACTIVATION

Upon the occurrence of a serious situation or emergency concerning or in any way involving the external dimension of the EU, the Deputy Secretary General (DSG) for Crisis Response consults with the High Representative/Vice President (HRVP) or the Secretary General (SG) and EEAS senior managers and, if the situation so warrants, activates the EEAS Crisis Response Mechanism.

The Deputy Secretary General for Crisis Response can also be requested to initiate the Crisis Response Mechanism by the HRVP, the SG or another DSG or Managing Director (MD). In the DSG’s absence, responsibility is transferred to a designated representative; for practical purposes, the latter will by default be the Director of INTCEN.

ELEMENTS OF THE CRISIS RESPONSE MECHANISM

The fundamental elements of the Crisis Response Mechanism are: the Crisis Meeting; the catalogue of possible Immediate Action; the Crisis Cell; the Crisis Platform; and the Task Force.

The CRISIS MEETING gathers EEAS, Commission and Council senior managers directly affected by the crisis in question. It assesses the short-term effects of the crisis and may decide to implement one or more of the following courses of action: (A) taking immediate action; (B) activating the Crisis Cell; (C) convening a Crisis Platform. Those courses of action can be implemented in any time sequence.

The Crisis Meeting may agree on some immediate action to be taken, including providing guidance and support to the EU Delegation, providing guidance to CSDP missions and operations, intensifying international contacts and action, issuing public messages, initiating CSDP prudent planning and launching fact finding missions, among other things.

The CRISIS CELL provides support to the EEAS Headquarters’ decision-makers and ensures that decisions taken in the Crisis Meeting are imple-

EEAS

A Crisis Platform meeting brings together experts from the EEAS, the European Commission and the Council.

mented. It is co-directed by a representative of the DSG for Crisis Response and a representative of the services primarily involved in the crisis. It is composed of a number of workstations manned by representatives of the EEAS, Commission and Council services involved in the response to the crisis.

The aim of the CRISIS PLATFORM is to gather together relevant EEAS, Commission and Council services to assess the medium and long-term effects of crises and agree on action to be taken. It is chaired by the HR/VP, the Secretary General or the DSG for Crisis Response. The Crisis Platform may agree on activating the Task Force, evaluates its implementation reports, decides on possible further measures and discusses proposals for Council action. The Crisis Platform is an ad-hoc configuration; therefore, it is not permanently activated.

The TASK FORCE is directed by the competent geographic MD and composed of representatives of the services involved in the response. Its aim is to follow and facilitate the implementation of the EU response. The Task Force evaluates the impact of EU action, prepares policy documents and options papers, contributes to the preparation of the Political Framework for Crisis Approach (PFCA), develops its own action plan, establishes a roadmap and reviews it periodically, contributes to the communication strategy, and adopts any other arrangements that can facilitate the implementation of the EU response.

The Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements are activated by the EU Presidency or upon request from one or more Member States. They allow for rapid consultation of EU Member States at political level in the event of emergencies or crises of political significance and with a wide-ranging impact, taking place either inside or outside the EU.

The EEAS contributes to the IPCR process, including by providing input for Integrated Situational Awareness and Analysis (ISAA) reports. The Situation Room is the EEAS central 24/7 IPCR contact point.