Battle Groups seminar, opening remarks by Dr. Seppo Kääriäinen, Minister of Defence of Finland

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am extremely happy to see so many participants here today. This clearly demonstrates the interest and the importance we all attach to the EU Battle Groups.  

As the Full Operational Capability will be achieved in only a few months' time, in the beginning of next year, the Presidency wishes to offer the EU Member States and other relevant actors a possibility to take stock of the progress already made and to discuss the challenges ahead.

Since the Battle Groups Co-ordination Conference is more of a technical conference, there is no regular forum for the political and military experts to exchange experiences and ideas. In this respect, the format at the Battle Groups seminar in Prague last November proved to be successful: the high level discussion was frank and reflective and not constrained by the need to find a consensus and to agree upon something.

The Presidency now has a similar pragmatic aim: let's share information and ideas.
Although we do not yet have experience from Battle Group operations, the two-year period of initial operational capability has provided us with useful experiences and lessons.

I am convinced that by starting our discussions with solutions and practices that various Battle Groups and other actors have come up with, we will have a constructive and useful seminar. I encourage you for a genuine debate and would like to emphasize that you don't need to limit yourselves to easy questions only. Critical and open-minded approach is needed.

We should bear in mind that for the EU citizens, the Battle Groups are perhaps the most visible aspect of the Headline Goal 2010. The Full Operational Capability of the EU Battle Groups will offer us a good opportunity to promote the public's understanding of ESDP issues.  

I wish you all a fruitful seminar and a pleasant stay in Finland. And I hope to see you all at the dinner in the Government Banquet Hall tonight.

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