In last late December EU Council Meeting no decision has been taken and political talks have been put off to January meeting which will be held on January 20 in Brussels when High Representative Catherine Ashton will discuss the situation in the CAR in order to decide whether and how increase EU support in stabilizing the country.

According to the information available, a potential military intervention may consist in sending at least one battalion (usually composed by roughly 500 to 1000 soldiers) which may take base in one of the towns in the west of the country and patrol the the area in order to create a security zone or may be sent to Bangui in order to take cover of the airport in close coordination with French and African Union forces.

Anyway, it is difficult to say which mandate may be actually given to the mission, if there will be a mission. The core of the problem is related to European capability of taking a political decision that would lead to a military action, especially when European soldiers life could be at stake: even if a military action will be approved, there are no certainties that such a mission would really make a difference. After all, it wouldn't be the first time that the EU shows a lack of common political will and it wouldn't be the first time that the EU performs a late and inadequate military intervention.

Considering that in the past 50 years the European Union often claimed its role as a security provider, another disappointing intervention as the one deployed in the Balkans in the 90es can't be an option.  

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