Financing European Union military and defence operations (Athena)

SUMMARY OF:

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/528 — funding the common costs of EU operations with military or defence implications (Athena)

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS COUNCIL DECISION DO?

—	It establishes a mechanism to manage the funding of the common costs of EU operations having military or defence implications (Athena).

—	Athena is not for profit and has the necessary legal capacity to, among other things, enter into contracts and be a party to legal proceedings.

KEY POINTS

—	The decision-making body of Athena is the Special Committee, which comprises 1 representative from each of the 27 EU countries that contribute to the financing of EU military operations (Denmark is exempt from defence-related activities in the EU context).

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3 management bodies exist under the special committee: — the Administrator, who draws up draft budgets (which are submitted to the Special Committee) and implements the Special Committee’s decisions; — the Operation Commander who, among other things, sends expenditure proposals to the Administrator; — the Accounting Officer.

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This decision defines the eligible costs of joint financing by Athena depending on the phase of the operation, which is defined in its annexes: — Annex I — the common costs covered by Athena whenever they are incurred; — Annex II — costs incurred from the preparatory phase of operations (e.g. exploratory missions or emergency medical evacuation when medical treatment cannot be provided on the spot); — Annex III — costs incurred from the active phase of operations, etc. (e.g. costs of headquarters of EU-led operations, transport, barracks and lodging or communications).

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Each year, the Administrator proposes the draft budget for the following year to the Special Committee. This is drawn up with the support of each operation commander. It must include a forecast of revenue to cover expenditure as well as financial allocations to cover: — common costs incurred in preparation for operations; — costs for ongoing or planned operations.

Examples of operations benefiting from Athena financing include:

—	EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

—	Eunavfor Atalanta (Horn of Africa);

—	EUMAM RCA (Central African Republic).

WHEN DOES THIS DECISION APPLY?

From 27 March 2015.

BACKGROUND

The Council of the EU adopted the first document (10155/02) on the financing of the EU-led crisis-management operations in 2002. Meanwhile, Council Decision 2004/197/CFSP first created the Athena mechanism. That decision was amended several times and was finally replaced in 2015 by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/528.

See also the Council of the European Union’s website: Athena — financing security and defence military operations.

ACT

Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/528 of 27 March 2015 establishing a mechanism to administer the financing of the common costs of European Union operations having military or defence implications (Athena) and repealing Decision 2011/871/CFSP (OJ L 84, 28.3.2015, pp. 39-63)

last update 16.11.2015