European Union Exercise Concept - Hoofdinhoud

COUNCIL OF PUBLIC Brussels, 07 May 2004

THE EUROPEAN UNION

9329/04

LIMITE

COSDP 227

NOTE

From : Secretariat

To : Delegations

No. prev. doc.: 11886/03

Subject : European Union Exercise Concept

Delegations will find attached the EU Exercise concept which the PSC took note of at its meeting on 7 May 2004.

9329/04 MV/RM 1

EU EXERCISE CONCEPT

CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. DEFINITIONS

III. EXERCISES

A. Crisis management exercises B. Exercise Forms

IV. EXERCISE PROCESS

A. Exercise Programming a) Structure of the EU Exercise Programme b) Programme meetings c) Responsibilities

B. Exercise Implementation a) Planning

(i) Exercise-specific tasking arrangements (ii) Council bodies involved in planning (iii) Exercise planning documents (iv) Exercise planning meetings (v) Planning time and facilities aspects

• b) 

  Conduct (i) General provisions (ii) Players and other participants (iii) DISTAFF and PRC

• c) 

  Evaluation and reporting V. OTHER EXERCISE ACTIVITIES

Annexes: A. Guidelines for real world PI and Information Strategy

B. CIS guidelines C. Illustrative Example of Exercise Planning Stages and Documentation D. Templates E. Glossary

I. INTRODUCTION

• 1. 

  The Exercise Policy of the European Union approved by the Council defines the political and operational framework for EU exercise activities, identifies the EU requirements for and

categories of exercises and is the basis for the effective implementation of all EU exercises.

• 2. 

  The aim of the EU exercise concept is to set out the practical modalities with regard to exercise programming and exercise implementation in conformity with the EU Exercise Policy.

II. DEFINITIONS

• 3. 

  The EU exercise process consists of two distinct steps, namely Exercise programming and Exercise implementation.

• 4. 

  Exercise programming means the selection of individual exercises to be included in the EU Exercise Programme.

• 5. 

  Exercise implementation is achieved through the consecutive stages of planning, conducting, evaluating and reporting of a specific exercise (see annex D for an illustrative example).

• - 

  planning means the process of the elaboration of the exercise documentation. It starts with the development of the EXSPEC and culminates in the finalisation of the EXINST

  and the DI-INST, followed by final preparations for the conduct of the exercise.

  • - 

    conduct means the execution of what has been planned for a specific exercise. It refers

  to what is also known as the "active phase" of an exercise.

• - 

  evaluation means the assessment of whether and to what extent the exercise aims and objectives were achieved, by allowing players to highlight the most significant lessons

  learned from the planning and conduct phase.

• - 

  reporting means the development and approval of a final exercise report that contains lessons learned as well conclusions and recommendations for their implementation as

  agreed by the PSC.

III. EXERCISES

• 6. 

  EU exercises in principle involve many, if not the entire range of crisis management instruments, military as well as civilian (in particular in the four priority areas identified at Feira, i.e. police, rule of law, civilian administration and civil protection).

• 7. 

  Categories of exercises are defined in the EU Exercise Policy.

• 8. 

  For the effective implementation of EU-led operations, the European Union will have to determine, according to the requirements of the case whether it will conduct

  • - 

    EU-led operations without recourse to NATO assets and capabilities or - EU-led operations using NATO assets and capabilities.

  The Union must exercise each of these possible courses of actions as well as the pre-decisional

  phase where both options are open.

• 9. 

  As the Union is pursuing a comprehensive approach to crisis management, a strong synergy and co-ordination between military and civilian components will be required. Exercises must contribute as appropriate to the achievement of this objective.

A. Crisis Management exercises

• 10. 

  The design of each individual exercise will depend on the selection of and the focus on specific exercise objectives. EU Crisis Management Exercises include:

  • 1. 

    Exercises at the political-strategic level, involving military and civilian aspects (a) CME

    This denomination designates: - Either an exercise based on a scenario for an EU-led operation without recourse to NATO assets and capabilities. It involves the Member States (capitals and delegations), the relevant Council instances, the Presidency, the Secretary General/High Representative, the Council General Secretariat, and/or potential OHQ from Member States, and the Commission and other EU players as appropriate.

• - 

  Or an exercise based on a scenario for an EU-led operation with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities. It involves the Member States (capitals and delegations), the relevant Council instances, the Presidency, the Secretary General/High Representative, the Council General Secretariat, the Commission and other EU players as appropriate. NATO's involvement in the exercise, other than the participation of a NATO provided OHQ, will be simulated or pre-scripted. The exercise is planned by the EU according to

  its own procedures.

  (b) Joint CME/CMX: Joint EU/NATO exercises are polmil exercises based on a scenario for an EU-led operation with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities. They involve the Member States (capitals and delegations), the relevant Council instances, the Presidency, the Secretary General/High Representative, the Council General Secretariat, the Commission and other EU players as appropriate, as well as NATO politico-military instances and possibly a NATO provided OHQ. Programming and implementation of such exercises will have to be done in close co-ordination between the EU and NATO using, respectively, compatible procedures. These arrangements will be specified in the EU-NATO part of the EXSPEC. The arrangements for exercising the EU 's ability to deploy and co-ordinate a combination of civil and military instruments will be specified in the EU internal part of the EXSPEC.

• 2. 

  Military exercise - Exercise concentrating on the military aspects of crisis management. It focuses on relevant Council instances, the Presidency, the Secretary General/High Representative, the Council General Secretariat as well as on potential OHQ and FHQ. It can be either based on a scenario for an EU-led operation without recourse to NATO assets and capabilities or on a scenario for an EU-led operation with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities.

  • 3. 

    Civilian exercise - Exercise focussing on the civilian aspects of crisis management, in particular the mobilisation of civilian capabilities (e.g. police, judges) and the pooling of these resources as part of a common approach in co-ordination with the Community instruments. These exercises can involve Member States, relevant Council instances, the Presidency, the Secretary-General/High Representative, the Council General Secretariat, the Commission and other EU players as appropriate, as well as the Co-ordinating Mechanism for Civilian Crisis Management, and selected potential civilian assets and capabilities in accordance with defined exercise objectives.

B. Exercise Forms

• 11. 

  There are a several ways in which crisis management exercises can be conducted. They could take the form either of:

  (a) Command Post Exercise (CPX): A CPX is an exercise that may involve, in addition to the EU institutions and EU Member States, commanders and their staffs. It would thus include communications within and between these institutions, Member States and HQs. As it does not involve real troop deployment, it is a cost-efficient means of exercising in a realistic manner decision-making and co-operation.

  Exercises at politico-strategic level as well as military and civilian exercises can be conducted in a CPX form.

A Synthetic Exercise (SYNEX) is conducted in a CPX mode, whereby fictitious forces are generated, displayed and moved by electronic or other means on computers, simulators, or other training devices. A Computer Assisted Exercise (CAX) is an exercise where computers simulate the operational environment and provide event resolution. Participants are the same as in CPXs and may be concentrated to a central location (non-distributed CAX) or remain at

home station (distributed CAX).

(b) A LIVEX is an exercise which involves deployment of assets and training of personnel under a simulated theatre of operation. This has been common practice for some civilian exercises usually organised by the Commission.

(c) Exercise-related activities : These exercise-related activities are conducted at a single location, with participants representing Member States, EU institutions, HQs or forces. They do not require communications external to the study location. Exercise Studies, Crisis Management Workshops are activities that focus on key aspects of EU crisis management procedures. Activities such as studies, Workshops, seminars involve a limited number of participants (key personnel) with a specific functional focus.

IV. EXERCISE PROCESS

A. Exercise Programming

(a) Structure of the EU Exercise Programme

• 12. 

  The EU Exercise Programme, which is approved by the Council on an annual basis, reflects the EU requirements set out in the Exercise Policy. It determines the type and frequency of exercises to be conducted. It should be progressive, with each exercise taking into account the agreed lessons learned from previous exercises and the latest developments in EU crisis management, and allow adequate long-term planning of exercises in the EU including coordination with international organisations as appropriate. It should describe in general terms the aim and focus of each exercise in the political and, where appropriate, the military and/or civilian field. With a view to furthering the Union's comprehensive approach to crisis management, particular attention needs to be paid to exercising the framework within which the full range of civilian and military instruments is properly co-ordinated.

• 13. 

  To allow adequate long-term planning of exercises in the EU, the Council approves every year the EU Exercise Programme covering in a systematic and consecutive approach a five-year period listing the planned individual exercises under three different levels of decision and stage of preparation. The Council agrees every year in general the exercise(s) for the following year.

Therefore, exercises that are "tentatively agreed" or "envisaged" require a Council decision to be agreed. If needed, the Council may agree on a specific exercise in a longer-term perspective

in order to allow timely exercise preparation. (a) "Agreed" covers in principle the first year of the exercise programme. The Council has

decided to conduct the exercise(s). (b) "Tentatively agreed" covers in principle the second and third year of the exercise

programme. The exercise planning is, with this decision, initiated at the appropriate time,

bearing in mind the minimum planning time required.

(c) "Envisaged" covers in principle the fourth and fifth year of the exercise programme.

Preliminary considerations leading to the scheduling of the exercise can be made.

Each section will be structured as illustrated at Annex D.

• 14. 

  Headquarters offered by (a) Member State(s) or provided by NATO may be designated to take part in the conduct of an exercise. To this purpose, after consulting the Member States or NATO, the Headquarters should be listed in the EU Exercise Programme in principle two years in advance. To that effect, the EUMC will forward an avis with recommendations to be agreed by the PSC.

• 15. 

  Exercises carried out by the Commission in its area of competence are also included in the EU Exercise Programme for information.

• 16. 

  The EU Exercise Programme will be co-ordinated with that of NATO and other relevant organisations in accordance with the Exercise Policy of the EU.

• 17. 

  Workshops should be presented in a separate category in the EU Exercise Programme (exercise-related activities) for illustrative purposes only. It is recalled in this context that the specifications and invitations for exercise-related activities, such as workshops, seminars, symposia, etc. need only to be submitted for the approval of the PSC.

• 18. 

  To the extent that a Member State or a group of Member States plan and conduct military exercises based on scenarios related to potential EU-led crisis management operations, relevant information should be shared with the other Member States through the EUMS. This

  information will be made available in a separate document and may be attached to the EU

  exercise programme.

  (b) Programme meetings

• 19. 

  In the context of preparation of the draft programme, one or – if need arises - two EU Exercise Programme meetings are foreseen to take place in the first semester of each year. The aim of these meetings should be to discuss and further elaborate the draft programme prepared by the Council Secretariat and relevant structures of the Commission as appropriate, with a view to an agreement on the draft EU exercise programme at working-level.

  (c) Responsibilities

• 20. 

  The PMG with the participation as appropriate of military and civilian experts from Member States will elaborate the draft programme during the EU Exercise Programme meetings. Further to the EU Exercise Programme meetings, the draft EU Exercise Programme will be submitted to the PSC. The Military Committee should provide its advice on all relevant aspects of the draft programme. The Committee for Civilian Aspects of Crisis Management should also provide its advice in accordance with the guidelines for the Committee agreed by the Council. The PSC should then agree on the contents of the draft EU Exercise Programme and submit it to the Council via COREPER for approval.

• 21. 

  The Council Secretariat should keep under review the programming of EU crisis management exercises. Normal turnover of relevant staff on exercises should be taken into account in the exercise cycle ensuring that exercise expertise is not depleted.

B. Exercise Implementation process

• 22. 

  The exercise is scheduled, once the Council has tentatively agreed the exercise as part of the EU Exercise Programme, thus allowing for its adequate implementation (adequate staffing, facilities, budget…) (see paragraph 13).

• 23. 

  A clear demarcation of exercise planners and players needs to be ensured within the EU and in capitals. This is crucial, in particular in the case of event driven crisis management exercises which can only be successfully run if the events prepared for injection during the conduct of the exercise are not known in advance to the players. Therefore, Member States' exercise experts, both civilian and military as appropriate, should elaborate the technical aspects of the planning process to the greatest extent possible.

  (a) Planning:

  (i) Exercise-specific tasking arrangements

• 24. 

  The following key responsibilities are to be identified once the Council decided to schedule a specific exercise. Relevant structures of the Commission will participate in this work as appropriate.

  Official Scheduling the Exercise (OSE)

• 25. 

  The OSE is the official under whose operational authority the Council decision to schedule an exercise is carried out. The Secretary General/High Representative will be the official scheduling an EU exercise, in association with the Commission as appropriate. The OSE will recommend the OCE, who will be appointed with the approval of the EXSPEC.

• 26. 

  The OSE may recommend, to the PSC that the exercise be terminated, suspended or modified, if major constraints make such a decision necessary. This does not prejudge the PSC´s own initiative in this regard in view of real world necessities (e.g. suddenly arising crisis needing the full attention of PSC).

  Official Conducting the Exercise (OCE)

• 27. 

  Acting under the authority of the OSE and without prejudice to the responsibilities of the PSC, the OCE is the official responsible for preparing the implementation of the exercise in association with the Commission, as appropriate. Unless otherwise specified, the General Secretariat of the Council will provide the OCE, in association with the Commission services as appropriate.

• 28. 

  The exercise will be conducted by the OCE in accordance with the Exercise Specifications and EXINST. In regard to occurrences significantly impinging on the conduct of the exercise, the OCE – after consultations within the EU DISTAFF (i.e Central DISTAFF and DISTAFF elements) may recommend to the OSE that the exercise or parts of it be terminated, suspended or modified.

  Core Planning Team

• 29. 

  A Core Planning Team (CPT) will be established for the purpose of each EU exercise, comprising staffs from the relevant services of Council General Secretariat under the authority of the SG/HR and the OCE – once appointed – and as appropriate, from the Commission. The incumbent and if appropriate, in terms of conduct days, incoming Presidency will be fully associated in the work of the CPT and attend its meetings. The CPT's tasks are to elaborate first drafts of the exercise planning documentation (EXSPEC, EPG, EXINST and DI-INST) , and following the conduct of the exercise, to compile the initial draft Final Exercise Report (FER) on the basis of First Impression Reports (FIRs) received. The CPT should ensure the necessary co-ordination between Member States and the requirement for a DISTAFF organisation that is sufficiently manned and which should be given the authority required to ensuring that exercise objectives are met. It also prepares the exercise planning meetings. Members of the CPT, including the Commission as appropriate, chair all the syndicates.

• 30. 

  In the specific case of joint exercises with NATO, each organisation may– respectively nominate an OSE and one or more OCEs as appropriate. Once the decision to schedule a EU/NATO exercise has been taken ( exercise tentatively agreed ), Council General Secretariat /NATO staff-to-staff contacts should take place in order to co-ordinate the planning modalities, the work plan and planning proposals covering the EU/NATO aspects of the exercise, including the preparation of the Exercise Specifications and the development of a Planning Guide for the exercise, covering the EU/NATO aspects as well. The present and if necessary incoming, EU Presidency and the Commission will be fully associated in the work of the EU Core Planning Team and the Co-ordinating Core Planning Team (CCPT) to the extent that they wish.

  (ii) Council bodies involved in planning

• 31. 

  Exercise documentation will be elaborated and reviewed in planning meetings, drawing on first drafts prepared by the CPT. These meetings will take form of the PMG in the format of

  Member States’ exercise experts (1) , civilian and military, as appropriate (2) .

• 32. 

  During these planning meetings, the Member States experts will have the primary responsibility for elaborating further the exercise documentation and co-ordinating exercise work. These Member States experts will in principle also play a DISTAFF role during the conduct of the exercise (be it in the Central DISTAFF or in Member States' capitals). Since EU exercises aim at testing the EU's comprehensive approach to crisis management, the presence of civilian as well as military Member States experts is highly recommended during planning meetings.

• 33. 

  Planning meetings will comprise a number of "informal settings" or syndicates on specific subject matters. The number and composition of such syndicates will vary in accordance with the aims and objectives of specific exercises.

• 34. 

  This detailed exercise planning will be supervised by the PMG on behalf of the PSC. The PMG will in particular consider in detail the elaboration of the draft EXSPEC and exercise the necessary political guidance on EU crisis management procedures and other key political aspects surfacing during exercise planning and agree on the contents of the EX-INST for use during the exercise. If deemed necessary during the course of the planning phase, including during planning meetings, the Presidency may call on short notice a special meeting of the PMG to provide such guidance. Relevant controversial military issues will be brought to the attention of the EUMC. Relevant controversial civilian issues will be brought to the attention of CIVCOM.

________________________________________________________________

(1) It is recalled that delegations are manned according to each Member State’s decision.

(2) In the light of planning experience from future exercises, the issue of the Exercise Planning Group may be re-examined by the PSC, including inter alia the option of the possible creation of an Exercise Planning Group.

• 35. 

  Without prejudice to the role of the PMG in exercise planning:

  • - 

    the implementation of military exercises and military exercise-related activities will be

  directed by the EUMC, under the guidance of the PSC.

  • - 

    CIVCOM will oversee civilian exercises and civilian exercise-related activities, under the

  guidance of the PSC.

  (iii) Exercise Planning documents

  Exercise Specifications and Exercise Planning Guide

• 36. 

  The EXSPEC is the basic planning document for each individual exercise. Notwithstanding the general supervisory setting as described in paragraph 34, the PMG will consider the draft EXSPEC, either before the pre-IPM or, if no such a meeting is planned, before the IPM. Following its elaboration at the (pre-)IPM and consideration by the PMG, the document is then forwarded to the PSC. Relevant advice will be provided by the EUMC and by CIVCOM in accordance with the guidelines for the Committee agreed by the Council. Once agreed by the PSC, the draft EXSPEC is submitted to Council for approval. Due to the constraints of planning, the EXSPEC should preferably be approved before the Initial Planning Meeting (IPM) but in any case, at the latest before the Main Planning Meeting (MPM). It is recalled in this context that the EXSPEC for exercise-related activities is approved by the PSC (see paragraph 17).

• 37. 

  The EXSPEC should state with the necessary degree of detail key aspects, on which the implementation of the exercise will be based. This includes inter alia the exercise title, its aim, objectives (political and military and/or civilian), basic concept, type, form and duration, planning responsibilities, participation and observation requirements as appropriate, exercise evaluation and other related exercise activities and guidelines including on real world public information. For a joint EU-NATO exercise, there will be an EU-NATO part and an EU internal part of the EXSPEC.

• 38. 

  The EPG is a planning tool which clarifies as necessary the details related to planning activities/objectives, syndicate requirements and exercise documents. It is elaborated during the planning meetings and considered by the PMG before being forwarded to PSC to be noted as a working document and to be updated as required.

  Exercise Instructions and Directing Staff Instructions

• 39. 

  The two driving exercise documents for the conduct of the exercise to be developed during the planning meetings are the Exercise Instructions (EXINST) and the Directing Staff Instructions (DI-INST).

• 40. 

  The EXINST should contain all information required by the exercise participants including any supporting and amplifying instruction (see Annex D)e.g. evaluation formats/templates. Key elements are a political background and a lead-in scenario, including pre-scripted supporting documents that lead to a STARTEX situation as determined by the EXSPEC. An executive summary may be included in the EXINST so as to provide in a succinct manner key aspects of the background documentation to players. The EXINST will be noted by the PSC for use during the exercise and will be distributed to players before STARTEX.

• 41. 

  Supporting exercise documentation ( e.g. CMC, MSOD, MSOs, PSOs and other CSOs...) could be compiled in separate, if necessary, supplements to the EXINST.

• 42. 

  The DI-INST should contain specific information relating to the Directing Staff (DISTAFF) on the conduct of the exercise (see Annex D). An appropriate Events List ( EL ) will be developed during exercise planning and included in the DI-INST. This is especially important for eventsdriven exercises. The DI-INST will be finalised at the FPM and distributed solely to DISTAFF Members. Work on the DI-INST will be supervised by the PMG.

  (iv) Exercise Planning meetings

• 43. 

  A number of planning meetings will take place, with a view to developing the exercise documentation for each exercise.

• 44. 

  Key steps of successive planning meetings are:

For the initial planning meeting (IPM), the need to reach agreement on the exercise geography and framework, to achieve a common understanding on the political background scenario and on possible contribution requirements, as well as to establish the EPG and the workplan for the main planning meeting (MPM). As the timely preparation of the exercise geography is an essential element of the planning and conduct of exercises, SATCEN should be involved from

the outset in the planning process.

The main planning meeting (MPM) will concentrate on the further development of the EXINST and – if already possible – the DI-INST. For the final planning meeting (FPM), the finalisation of the exercise documentation, and to address any other open issues, including the way ahead and the requirements after the FPM prior to the conduct of the exercise.

IPM, MPM and FPM are mandatory meetings in order to prepare the exercise.

• 45. 

  Depending on the complexity of the exercise, a Pre-IPM may be called. The aim is to discuss the status of planning and the general exercise outline; to develop further the draft EXSPEC; and to determine the way ahead, in particular with respect to the timelines for exercise planning and other general arrangements, such as syndicate requirements.

• 46. 

  The number of meetings - ex.: central planning meeting - and syndicates established will vary in accordance with the aims and objectives of individual exercises. Other intermediate meetings and activities may be necessary in order to carry on the exercise planning e.g. further development of a supporting document ( e.g. CONOPS, OPLAN…) and the development and co-ordination of exercise-related events for inclusion in an Events List.

• 47. 

  These planning meetings will be convened as follows:

  (a) plenary sessions will be held at the beginning and at the end of every planning meeting, with a view to keeping participants abreast of the developing work

  (b) a number of specialised informal settings (also known as "syndicates") will meet as appropriate The Co-ordination syndicate will be convened during planning meetings to co-ordinate the results of the syndicates' work and to address other technical exerciserelated matters as appropriate.

  (v) Planning time and facilities aspects

• 48. 

  The planning time necessary between the first internal talks at Secretariat level followed by initial CPT work and leading to the start of an exercise depends on the complexity and planning requirements of each exercise. Sufficient time, generally estimated to be around 12 months, is needed for the preparation of exercises Joint EU-NATO exercises preparation might require more planning time.

• 49. 

  Planning time will be restricted to the extent required for the achievement of the exercise planning objectives. The exercise timetable will be part of the EPG subject to Member States' provisional agreements at the IPM and subject to being noted by the PSC. Subsequent changes to the envisaged exercise timetable might become necessary during the planning and would be subject to agreement according to the procedure described in paragraph 39.

• 50. 

  Meetings will take place in Brussels. In the case of joint exercises with NATO, specific modalities, following consultations, will be agreed by the EU and by NATO in a parallel process.

  (b) Conduct

  (i) General provisions

• 51. 

  Due to the compressed time-scale, a limited number of exercise specific administrative arrangements may need to be developed internally by players. It should however be stressed that exercises are designed to test and evaluate mechanisms and arrangements which would be used in a real crisis, and that such exercise-related administrative arrangements should therefore be limited to the maximum extent possible.

• 52. 

  The Council General Secretariat, in association with the Commission where appropriate, will be responsible for providing detailed pre-exercise briefings to relevant Council bodies in order to familiarise them with the exercise documentation.

• 53. 

  In case observation and/or participation in an exercise is decided, those invited will be briefed as agreed in the EXSPEC.

  (ii) Exercise players and other participants

• 54. 

  Players entitled to participate in exercises will be defined in the EXSPEC of each exercise (see paragraph 10).

• 55. 

  Modalities for participation or observation, as appropriate, of EU exercises by international organisations and third states will be laid down in the EXSPEC.

(iii) Directing Staff (DISTAFF) and Political Response Cell (PRC)

• 56. 

  A Directing Staff (DISTAFF), under the authority of the OCE, will be established in order to monitor and, if necessary, influence exercise play in accordance with the aims and objectives of the exercise. A Central DISTAFF will be formed by the Council General Secretariat and will comprise CPT members from the Council General Secretariat and the Commission, and experts from Member States who so wish. DISTAFF elements will be located in capitals and staffed by relevant personnel from Member States. There will also be a DISTAFF element in the Commission. Exercise records ( e.g. logbook, products developed during the conduct,...) produced during the active phase will be maintained by DISTAFF.

• 57. 

  An exercise Political Response Cell (PRC) should be established by the Council General Secretariat, in association with the Commission as appropriate, and will also include relevant expertise from Member States as appropriate. It will simulate responses and reactions by generic countries, international organisations and other organisations, including NGOs as appropriate, in accordance with the scenario and the exercise specifications. The PRC will receive its instructions and report to the Central DISTAFF.

• 58. 

  In case of joint EU/NATO polmil exercises, relevant responsibilities will be laid down in the EXSPEC and the DI-INST, in full respect of each organisation's decision-making autonomy.

  (c) Evaluation and reporting

• 59. 

  First Impression Reports (FIRs) from the Member States, the Council General Secretariat, the Commission and the Satellite Centre, will be requested within a week after the conduct of the exercise and will be circulated amongst them. If appropriate, the OCE will provide a report on technical aspects of exercise planning and conduct.

• 60. 

  FIRs will provide the basis for an initial draft Final Exercise Report (FER) to be compiled by the CPT. The initial draft FER should be circulated within a month after the circulation of the FIRs.

• 61. 

  The initial draft FER will be discussed in a Post-Exercise Discussion (PXD) to be held in a PMG with the participation as appropriate of military and civilian experts from Member States. There will be at least seven working days between the distribution of the draft FER to Member States and the PXD.

• 62. 

  The PXD will result in a revised draft Final Exercise Report (FER) which will include agreed lessons learned and recommendations for subsequent actions. In case of an EU-led exercise with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities, the FER will comprise a distinct section covering EU/NATO aspects which will be co-ordinated with NATO.

• 63. 

  The revised draft FER will be noted by the PSC, taking into account the appropriate advice from the relevant Council bodies in accordance with the EU Exercise Policy. This process should be concluded within five weeks of the PXD.

• 64. 

  On the basis of the FER, the PSC may agree on recommendations and follow-up actions, including on a review of their implementation as appropriate.

• 65. 

  Exchange, as appropriate, of agreed lessons learnt with NATO and other organisations will be carried out under PSC guidance.

II. OTHER EXERCISE ACTIVITIES

• 66. 

  Section V of the EU Exercise Policy provides examples of other exercise activities which the EU may be invited to observe. Such observation could provide useful insights and promote cooperation, but do not in any way imply active EU participation in any such exercise.

• 67. 

  As stated in the EU Exercise Policy, participation of EU observers will be decided by the relevant authorities on a case-by-case basis taking into account the specific objectives of the exercise concerned.

• 68. 

  The General Secretariat of the Council is tasked with co-ordinating invitations forwarded to the EU, and ensuring that the appropriate body provides guidance on the EU observation, as well as any possible follow-up.

ANNEXES

ANNEX A

GUIDELINES FOR REAL WORLD PI AND INFORMATION STRATEGY

The EU will differentiate between its public information policy for the exercise (real world PI) to be conducted by the relevant EU institutions, in accordance with normal procedures, and the Crisis Response Information Activities for which an EU Information Strategy may be developed as one of the objectives of the exercise and therefore form part of exercise play.

Detailed arrangements may therefore need to be elaborated:

− for the Real World PI, and

− for the Information Strategy for the exercise play.

The general Real World PI and Information Strategy approach with regard to any individual EU exercise is defined in its EXSPEC.

Detailed arrangements for real world press and media policy will be developed by the Presidency, the Council Secretariat and the Commission. Any documents produced (ex. press release, Q&A) will be presented to the PSC before release ahead of the active phase.

The Information Strategy will be elaborated and exercised in accordance with the ESDP Crisis Response Information Activities.

ANNEX B CIS GUIDELINES TO EXE CONCEPT

• 1. 

  General

During exercises, players and DISTAFF will use the real world existing and approved standard EU CIS equipment and facilities.

Additional CIS equipment will not be procured or implemented, unless there are overriding requirements for co-ordination or safety needs. The CPT is to identify and request the provision of relevant supplementary CIS capabilities to meet these requirements.

• 2. 

  Message Traffic Handling

It is essential to differentiate between exercise traffic and ongoing real world traffic.

Therefore, appropriate modalities will be laid down for each exercise and published in the EXINST.

Besides existing Communications Security (COMSEC) as set up in the Council's Security regulations, supplementary security recommendations, if any, will be included in the EXINST.

It is understood that participants must be thoroughly familiar with those modalities and procedures during the conduct of an exercise.

During exercises, the CIS architecture should allow to exchange information in a crypto-secure, reliable double way and timely manner between all participants.

• 3. 

  Performance

The evaluation and reporting of the overall CIS assets during the conduct of the exercise will help identify shortfalls and thus could lead to identification of further CIS requirements/assets.

ANNEX C

ANNEX C DG E VIII/EUMS EN

TEMPLATES ANNEX D

 Programme TBC ( illustrative )

200X (tentatively agreed)

Exercises Date Exercise Scenario Aim/Remarks

Apr/May CME 0X This exercise could draw on Exercise concentrating on how the EU manages crises with civilian and military instruments, including their co

Joint CME/CMX 0X scenario ordination in an EU-led operation with recourse to NATO assets and capabilities. It focuses on the interaction between the EU's politico-military bodies and a NATO provided OHQ, leading to the elaboration of a CONOPS and the equivalent level of planning for civilian instruments. Council instances, SG/HR, Commission, capitals and a NATO-provided OHQ.

2 nd Sem. CPX 0X- CPX 0X will draw on CME The exercise focuses on the interaction between EU OHQ and EU FHQ in an EU-led operation scenario without

Military 0X scenario. recourse to NATO assets and capabilities. Exercise The exercise involves Council instances, EU OHQ, EU FHQ.

Exercise-related activities Date Exercise Scenario Aim/Remarks

TBD Police It could draw on Workshop testing the reinforcement of the police unit and focusing on the elaboration of a CONOPS and the statement

Work-shop CME 0X scenario of requirements. The workshop involves Council instances, some of which reinforced with planning experts from capitals, and Commission.

For Information: Exercises carried out by the Commission in its area of competence Exercises envisaged in the context of the Council Decision establishing a Community mechanism to facilitate reinforced co-operation in civil protection assistance interventions (Council Decision 2001/792 i/CE, Euratom, of 23 October 2001)

Programme meetings Annual exercise experts meetings ( PMG/EUMCWG format ) will be called as appropriate

ANNEX D DG E VIII/EUMS EN

EXINST- CME xx ( illustrative )

LIST OF CONTENTS

Section I General

Section II Background - General

Annex 1 Geography details

Annex 2 Background

Appendix 1 NGOS Presence

Appendix 2 Police Elements

Appendix 3: Civilian Elements other than Police

Annex 3 Lead In Scenario

Annex 4 STARTEX Situation of Generic Forces

Appendix A Armed Forces

Appendix B Police forces

Section III Possible EU operation

Annex 1 Mandate

Annex 2 Elements of a Draft EU-Brokered Framework Agreement between the Parties

Annex 3 Elements of a Fact-Finding Mission Report

Annex 4 Compilation of potential input to the later elaboration of the draft CMC

Annex 5 Assessment of long-term objectives of the parties

Annex 6 Intelligence

Annex 7 Information Strategy not prescripted

Annex 8 Real World Public Information

Section IV Communications and Informations Systems

Annex 1 CIS matrix.

Section V Evaluation

ANNEX D DG E VIII/EUMS EN

DI-INST- CME XX ( illustrative )

Letter of Distribution

Title Page

List of Contents

General Arrangements

Annex 1 DISTAFF Functions and Organisation

Appendix 1 Organisational Chart

Annex 2 Exercise Key Events and Framework

Annex 3 EU CME-xx Events List

Annex 4 Injection of Events

ANNEX D DG E VIII/EUMS EN

GLOSSARY

CAX Computer Assisted Exercise CME Crisis Management Exercise (EU) CMX Crisis Management Exercise (NATO) CPT Core Planning Team CCPT Co-ordinating Core Planning Team CPX Command Post Exercise

DISTAFF Directing Staff DI-INST Distaff Instructions

EL Events List ENDEX End of the Exercise EPG Exercise Planning Guide ESDP European Security and Defence Policy EXINST Exercise Instructions EXSPEC Exercise Specifications

FIR First Impression Reports FER Final Exercise Report FPM Final Planning Meeting

IPM Initial Planning Meeting

LIVEX Live Exercise LL Lessons learned

MPM Main Planning Meeting

OCE Official conducting the exercise OSE Official scheduling the exercise

PRC Political Response Cell PXD Post Exercise Discussion

STARTEX Start of the Exercise SYNEX Synthetic Exercise

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