Brussels, 08/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Presenting details of the defence programme of the rotating EU Council presidency on Monday 7 March, Poland's Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said that Warsaw would seek to enhance dialogue between the EU and NATO. In his view, this would above all consist of strengthening the legal base for cooperation between the two organisations.
Speaking at the opening of a seminar at the European Security and Defence College (ESDC) in Rembertow, Poland, Klich said that dialogue between the EU and NATO is better now than it was two or three years ago. He added, however, that it was still not satisfactory. He took the view that the regular meetings between Catherine Ashton and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen were not a satisfactory political solution. Warsaw believes it would be better to strengthen the legal base for cooperation between the two organisations given that the existing legal base (Ed: the Berlin Plus agreements) does not provide for the possibility of cooperation on theatres of operation where both organisations conduct operations, Klich said, mentioning Afghanistan and Kosovo (in both these countries NATO is conducting a military operation while the EU is conducting a civilian operation). Also, according to Klich, both organisations should “synchronise” their respective work for developing capabilities (modernisation of material and military equipment).
The debate on security and defence will follow four main lines during the Polish presidency of the EU Council: - strengthening the EU's military capabilities, especially with implementation of the “pooling and sharing” concept; - better use of battlegroups; - reform of the EU command structure; - and cooperation with Eastern Partnership countries. Warsaw will above all seek closer links with regard to training and security sector reform, as well as facilitated participation by these countries in EU missions and operations (as things stand, only Ukraine has signed adequate agreements with the EU in this respect). (A.By./transl.jl)