TOWARDS SUCCESSFUL INDEPENDENT MILITARY ACTING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: DEVELOPMENT OF SATELLITE SUPPORT

Korać Srđan (Naučni saradnik u Institutu za međunarodnu politiku i privredu, Beograd),

The paper analyses whether and to what extent the prerequisites for successful implementation of the EU Common security and Defence Policy are being met in terms of logistical support for sustainable military missions in third countries, without relying on the NATO and/or the United states military infrastructure. The analysis make reference to the theoretical debates on the optimal model of the role of the EU as an international security actor as well as the vital importance of the intelligence for effective military presence in asymmetric conflicts in remote areas. The author examines the current capability of the EU for its own satellite imaging, reconnaissance, surveillance and collection of geospatial intelligence (GEOINT), and with regard to the performance of the real-time satellite communication system. The author concludes that the completed and ongoing EU military missions give ample evidence to support the assumption that with no long-term investment in the development of an European network of satellites and related ground infrastructure as well as improvements in the supranational intelligence, it is not likely that the EU will be able to both act as a global supplier of cooperative security and protect vital security interests.

Keywords: European Union satellite Centre (SATCEN), Common security and Defence Policy, international military missions, satellite technology, Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT), Imagery Intelligence (IMINT).