In order to better face the problem, France has called the European Union for a direct military intervention. The idea that has been proposed by Paris is to create a permanent European flying squad tasked with managing potential African crisis only. Such a proposal is now under examination at the European Council that is rounding up in these days to discuss defence and security policy issues (19 and 20 December).

The proposal is actually meaningful but the problem is to evaluate its actual feasibility. During the last 10-20 years, the European Union has shown clear difficulties in reaching relevant decision in this field. One of the most significant examples is related to the Balkan crisis occurred in the ‘90es within the former Republic of Yugoslavia dissolution process: European intervention was, in fact, tardive and non-influential in reaching the ceasefire. Moreover, the European Union has already created a flying squad-like instrument called Battlegroup but to these days it has never been used even if there have been occasions to do so.

Further relevant developments are thus to be expected.

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