Paris, 17 June 2010 – On Thursday, the European Security and Defence Assembly (ESDA) recommended improving medical cooperation among European armed forces so as to better respond to emergencies and ensure that the necessary expertise is available in the theatres of external operations.

In her report on medical cooperation among European armed forces, presented on behalf of the Defence Committee, Mrs Tuija NURMI (Finland, EPP/CD Group) pointed out that there was not much difference in the type of medical care needed for civilians and for the military during EU external operations. She added that “accidents, diseases, viruses and injuries are common to both the civil and military sectors. Therefore, the specialists needed to treat these medical issues can come from either sector. However, there has to proper contingency planning in case situations deteriorate and battle trauma medicine is needed”.

Based on this report, the ESDA recommended creating a structure for dialogue on medical issues among European armed forces. Such a structure should encompass representatives of the military, governmental and non-governmental organisations and civilian institutions “to identify fields of further cooperation” and would serve to establish a mechanism for the exchange of best practice and lessons learned from previous missions.

The Assembly further recommends that the EU member states should draw up a list of the surgical teams they are prepared to deploy in CSDP operations. It also recommends launching an EU-Fast initiative (to ensure a rapid response to major humanitarian crises) with a view to combining the EU-Fast and national surgical teams to maximise the efficiency of EU action.