London and Paris in row over defence unit’s location

Date: 12/04/01

By Simon Taylor

A decision on the future of the European Union's defence research arm is being held up by arguments among governments about whether to move it from Paris to Brussels.

Member states are also due to decide next month on the future role of the Institute of Security Studies, following changes agreed at the Nice summit. The think-tank is part of the old Western European Union (WEU), set up in 1954 to promote military cooperation among the then-six members of the Community.

Its operational functions, together with the WEU's satellite monitoring centre Torrejon in southern Spain, are being taken over by the Union - and that has left the Institute at the centre of a political tug of war.

According to WEU officials, the French are adamant that the body, which employs around 20 researchers working on long-term security and defence issues, should remain in Paris.

But the UK, with support from other member states, says it should relocate to Brussels to be in closer proximity to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and his planning unit.

"The policy planning unit is not playing the role as foreseen in the Amsterdam Treaty. It's simply an extension of Solana's cabinet," said a WEU official.

Diplomats say one solution is to incorporate the institute into the EU to create the Council of Ministers' first independent agency.

At present, only the Commission has separate bodies looking after specific monitoring duties such as the Food and Veterinary Office in Dublin. Agency status gives these offices operational freedom from political pressure in deciding technical questions. At the same time it ensures that they are answerable to member states and the European Parliament.

The other problem to be resolved is whether the staff working at these bodies become direct employees of the Council. Staff unions representing workers in the EU institutions are fighting to prevent employees of other organisations from being hired unless they pass the entrance examinations required for most EU staff.

WEU officials predicted that the expense of moving the institute to Brussels will probably mean that member states will decide to leave it in Paris for next two or three years.

A decision on the future of the European Union's defence research arm is being held up by arguments among governments about whether to move it from Paris to Brussels.