Athena (EU)

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Athena (Athena Mechanism) is a permanent mechanism for managing the financing of the common costs of European Union operations with military or defense implications under the EU Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP).

The Athena mechanism has existed since March 1, 2004. All EU member states with the exception of Denmark participate in this mechanism.

Legal basis

Athena is supported by Article 26 (2) and Article 41 (2) (contributions) of the Treaty on European Union .

organization

Athena is run by an administrator and managed under the supervision of a special committee composed of representatives of the Member States who contribute to the financing of the respective operation, the operation commander and one of the accounting officers and at least one Deputy Accounting Officers, appointed by the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union for a term of three years.

The Special Committee lays down the financial rules, recruitment and procurement rules for Athena. Athena staff must be authorized to access Council classified information up to at least “Secret UE” or equivalent prior to appointment. Within the framework of the legal capacity assigned to it, Athena can maintain bank accounts, acquire, own or sell assets, conclude contracts or administrative agreements and appear in court.

Representatives of the European External Action Service and the EU Commission are invited to the meetings of the Special Committee, but do not take part in its votes.

Emergence

At the EU summit on 10 and 11 December 1999 in Helsinki ( Finland ), the heads of state and government during the period of the Kosovo war decided that the EU member states would be able to cooperate voluntarily in EU-led operations until 2003 must be to deploy armed forces with 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers within 60 days, who are able to cover the entire spectrum of Petersberg tasks ( EU reaction force , later EU battlegroup ) and to keep these forces in action for at least one year.

On June 17, 2002, the Council of the European Union approved the modalities for financing EU-led crisis management operations with military or defense implications. On May 14, 2003, the Council held renewed discussions on the need for a crisis response capability, particularly for humanitarian and rescue missions.

The heads of state and government approved this at the EU summit on June 19 and 20, 2003 in Thessaloniki ( Greece ). The Council of the European Union decided on September 22, 2003 to set up a mechanism until March 1, 2004.

On February 23, 2004, Decision 2004/197 / CFSP establishing a mechanism for managing the financing of the common costs of European Union operations with military or defense implications was adopted. This resolution was then changed several times and replaced by new resolutions.

scope

The member states of the EU can finance the common costs for military operations as well as the national costs borne by the member states for via Athena.

This basically includes:

  • Costs for setting up and operating the headquarters, including business travel costs, IT systems, administration, public relations, local staff, relocation and accommodation for operational-tactical headquarters ( command posts, FHQ), headquarters of the command of an armed force component (CCHQ)
  • for the emergency services in general the infrastructure, medical care (in the operational area), MedEvac , identification symbols, information acquisition (satellite images),
  • Refunds to or from NATO or other organizations such as the United Nations .
  • Compensation payments and costs from claims and lawsuits to be settled through Athena.
  • Hiring local civilian personnel to carry out the mission (interpreters, drivers, etc.).

By decision of the Council of the European Union, costs for the transport and accommodation of emergency services as well as for multinational headquarters below the command post level can be co-financed.

At the request of the commander of the operation concerned and with the approval of the Special Committee also barracks and lodging and other infrastructure measures can, and absolutely necessary additional equipment, medical care, information gathering (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ( Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance ; ISR) in the mission area, including Air-to-ground surveillance ( Alliance Ground Surveillance ; AGS); Human Intelligence ), as well as particularly critical capabilities in the operational area such as NBC protection (CBRN), ordnance disposal and mine clearance are financed via the Athena mechanism.

Funded EU missions and operations

Ongoing missions

Completed missions

  • AMIS 2 (Sudan) (July 2005 - December 2007)
  • EUFOR RD Congo (June 2006 - November 2006)
  • EUFOR Tchad / RCA (January 2008 - March 2009)
  • EUFOR Libya (April 2011 - November 2011)
  • EUFOR RCA (February 2014 - March 2015)

Web links