EU HR Solana's remarks on EU-NATO permanent arrangements
Summary: December 16, 2002: Remarks by Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, following the agreement on the establishment of EU-NATO permanent arrangements (Brussels)
I am very pleased that we have agreed the EU-NATO framework for permanent relations. It is a clear milestone in our joint efforts in order to face the challenges of the new century. In today's world, security and stability are a collective endeavour. Our security will be best guaranteed by the collaboration of all of us. The agreement we are celebrating today is therefore important not only in itself but also for the people of Europe and beyond.
This comes just after, in Copenhagen last Friday, the European Union decided to enlarge and, not long ago in Prague, NATO had also decided to expand. It is the reunification of Europe but also of a Europe which is availing itself of the means better to contribute to security and stability.
In December 1999, the EU said in Helsinki that in 2003 it was going to be fully ready to act in crisis management operations with military capabilities. Three years after Helsinki, we are going to be ready. We have worked extremely hard to reach this moment and we have succeeded.
Today, we launch a strategic partnership that will bring our organisations closer together. In full transparency, we are ready as of today to start a new era of co-operation. We will continue to work with NATO in the same spirit of co-operation: the mission continues.
We are going to concentrate our efforts in particular on three areas:
- The EU's readiness to take over the military operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in total co-operation with the authorities in Skopje. We aim to be ready by the end of February for such an operation.
- Together, we are going to analyse the possibilities for an EU military role in Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the SFOR mission, following the willingness expressed by the European Council in Copenhagen. In two weeks we are going to take over the police mission in Bosnia from the UN. The EU is ready to play its part in Balkans in all the forms needed.
- Together with NATO we are going to prepare for a Joint Exercise in November 2003.
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