The EUFOR operation has a highly complicated management system due largely to its multinational composition and its different sources of funding: para-Community (Athena) and national, doubled by bilateral agreements. According to the principle of multinational operations, each contributing member organises itself as it chooses and supports its own forces via the National Support Element (NSE) cell. Contracts with other countries to share or subcontract certain tasks are also accepted. The Irish, the Austrians and the Swedes (together with the Finnish) have chosen to have their own autonomous NSEs whereas other countries have signed technical agreements (of differing levels) with the French: the Spanish for the provision of certain aeroplane maintenance services; the Poles for setting up the Iriba camp with food and lodging facilities. This ‘board and lodging’ formula, explains a logistics head, was “one of the conditions used to convince the Polish to come sooner than scheduled”. Technical agreements have also been concluded or are being negotiated with the Slovenians, the Romanians, the Russians and the Albanians (even going so far as to provide uniforms for the Albanians).

EUFOR guarantees certain basic functions for all NSEs, such as aeroplane transfers (loading and unloading the planes regardless of which country they belong to), help with fuel (refuelling tanks) or logistics tasks performed by the French logistics batallion.

JOINT MANAGEMENT

On the financial side, there is also a multilayered structure. The European budget (including the Athena mechanism) of €120 million covers the installation of the two commanding camps (Europa and Starcamp) – from laying out the terraces to installing the electricity board as well as daily operational costs. “For the troops based on the ground, fuel used in the canteen is charged to member states on a pro-rata basis based on use,” explains Lieutenant-Colonel Villuendas, the ‘mayor’ of Camp Europa. For water, they use a forfeit: 100 litres per day per person, and the same for electricity, according to the type of installation. All this is managed by Officer J8 (budget and funding) of the command team.

In fact, it is truly an example of ‘joint management’, which is recreated in each camp and includes free ‘public services’, ‘paying services’ and... delegated services. Certain functions (the canteen in permanent camps, public works) are frequently subcontracted to local private enterprises chosen in compliance with market rules. Consequently, a subsidiary built the Starcamp.

But there is no point in denying that the operation is largely based on the logistics of the permanent French Epervier operation based at the Kosseï camp, in N’Djamena. “I was given the mission of supporting EUFOR,” explains Colonel Périé, commander of Epervier. We have an operational contract to fulfil: “to transport 12 tonnes of freight between N’Djamena and Abéché, carry out reconnaissance on a daily basis (by means of two F1 Mirages and potentially an airbus tanker ship) according to instructions given by EUFOR’s Information Bureau, to maintain a Mirage patrol in permanent state of alert to provide air support in case of confrontation with the rebels” and a Puma helicopter for evacuations for reasons of health (Evasan). Certain staff providing back-office logistical support therefore have a dual role to play in the EUFOR and Epervier missions with two very distinct hierarchies and noticeably different commitment procedures. This dual role, explains Colonel Périé, “has a double advantage: it allows one to take everybody’s needs into account; to juggle priorities and to share the means. There is a strong desire for this operation to succeed, so we are doing our best to make it happen”.

RESPECT FOR EC STANDARDS

European standards, although not always appropriate, are applied in the EUFOR camps.

Veterinary checks are carried out and whenever possible, European health recommendations (for cold countries) adapted to hot countries are applied. Smoking is banned in public places and everyone smokes outside being sure not to go too close to the ammunition and fuel storage areas. Strict fire safety measures are applied and firemen pass regularly to ensure they are respected. Driving times for civilians are limited except in cases of emergency. Transparency and competition rules are followed in public procurement contracts (including publication in the Official Journal with the thresholds). In the Crocci camp at the airport in Abéché there even exists a ‘Natura 2000 mini-zone’ consisting of a wadi and wild birds enjoying a refreshing break which the soldiers are required to preserve.

The Athena budget is available at www.europolitics.info > Search > 223968

NATO conventions

According to NATO nomenclature, the staff functions are designated with a letter – J for Joint Operation – followed by a number for the function. J1 = personnel, J2 = information, J3 = operations, J4 = logistics, J5 = planning and policy, J6 = information systems and communications, J7 = exercises and experience, J8 = budget and funding, J9 = civil-military actions.