The conference Upgrading CSDP: pooling and sharing of military capabilities is the second in a series of three public events which CEPS organises in the course of 2013 to stimulate debate among multiple stakeholders on three strategic trajectories for CSDP: structures, capabilities (pooling & sharing) and common threats. Following on from the January 28th event on the planning and conduct of EU operations, the upcoming conference will move the focus from institutions to military capabilities. The latter have become a prerequisite to ensure comprehensive action. In fact, while civilian crisis management has made headway over the past ten years, military capabilities have lagged behind, hampering member states’ capacities to act together in a comprehensive manner and by using force when circumstances so require.
The aim of the conference is to assess the implementation of pooling and sharing within the EU, its complementarity with NATO’s smart defence agenda, and the extent to which ongoing programmes are designed to meet the EU strategic requirements over the next 20 years and beyond. While the “need” for pooling and sharing (P&S) has been acknowledged, it does not seem clear what the EU “vision” for P&S is. Two questions arise in this regard. First, is P&S linked to the debate on the revision of the European Security Strategy? Second, what is the most effective configuration of P&S, drawing inspiration from existing practices across bilateral (Franco-British cooperation), sub-regional (Nordic countries, the Visegrad Group) or political groupings (the Weimar triangle)?
Participation in this event is free of charge. A sandwich lunch (€6) will be served between 12:15 and 13:00
