Defence Minister Bausch Stresses Importance of EU Sahel Presence to 'Counter Russian Influence'

Luxembourg's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, François Bausch, participated in the informal meeting of European Union (EU) Defence Ministers on 29 and 30 August 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic, which is currently holding the presidency of the Council of the EU.

The meeting began on Monday 29 August 2022 with an informal dinner of EU Defence Ministers at Prague Castle.

On Tuesday 30 August 2022, during a first working session, the Defence Ministers, in the presence of the United Nations (UN) Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Security and Defence of the European Parliament, Nathalie Loiseau, and NATO's Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning, Jörg See, had an exchange of views on the consequences of Russia's aggression against Ukraine on security and defence in all realms of operations. In particular, they analysed the security situation in Africa, particularly in the Sahel region, and the consequences of the presence of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in this region. Other topics discussed in this context were Russian disinformation campaigns and the means to effectively counter them.

Luxembourg's Defence Minister François Bausch emphasised: "The war in Ukraine is accompanied by a communication war at the global level and by destabilisation attempts of a hybrid nature, which multiply the fronts and contribute to diluting Russian responsibility in the current crisis. It is therefore important that we use all the means at our disposal to support the countries concerned. In the Sahel, our presence and our action are important to counter the Russian influence and narrative. In Mali, MINUSMA [the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali] is facing unacceptable obstacles that must be denounced".

The second working session was devoted to an analysis of investment deficits in the field of defence. In May 2022, the European Council instructed the European Commission, in coordination with the European Defence Agency (EDA), to carry out an analysis of defence investment gaps as well as to put forward suggestions aimed at further strengthening the industrial base and technology of European defence. The European Commission, represented by Commissioner Thierry Breton, has proposed a series of possible tools to address the most urgent capability gaps to be filled, as well as the EU's medium- and long-term capability gaps. This is a question of replenishing the reserves of armaments sent in support of Ukraine, reinforcing existing capacities and investing in new capacities. Among the concrete instruments proposed are the creation of a Task Force to coordinate urgent defence acquisition needs, the creation of a short-term instrument to strengthen defence industrial capabilities and a joint European defence investment programme, allowing Member States to benefit from a VAT exemption for joint acquisitions.

"Luxembourg continues to support any initiative and instrument that encourages a more collaborative approach to defence. The increase in defence budgets should not be to the detriment of other European policies, in particular conflict prevention or development aid", noted Minister Bausch during his speech.

During the last session on Tuesday, the Defence Ministers once again focused on the war in Ukraine. In the presence of Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who participated via videoconference, the ministers discussed possibilities for the EU to provide support to Ukraine. The ministers discussed the idea of ​​a potential new military assistance mission in Ukraine, i.e. EUMAM Ukraine (EU Military Advisory Mission), proposed by High Representative Josep Borrell. This mission would be complementary to the confirmed €2.5 billion to support the delivery of lethal and non-lethal equipment to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility (EPF). The Defence Ministers expressed their support in principle for the idea of ​​EUMAM Ukraine, for which a fact-finding mission should define the details and the feasibility.

"We must support Ukraine in the short, medium and long term. Training the Ukrainian military must of course be part of our support and many Member States and third States already provide such training. However, regarding the idea of ​​an EU training mission, it must be ensured that such a European mission would make our support more effective and bring real added value", concluded Minister Bausch.