Brussels, 04/02/2000 (Agence Europe) - A joint WEU and NATO press release states that the first joint crisis management exercise between the Western European Union and the Atlantic Alliance, CMX/CRISEX 2000 will be conducted between 17 and 23 February, "to give substance to the development of European Security and Defence Identity within the Alliance", and that all 30 WEU and NATO countries have been invited to participate (you may recall, moreover, that the European Union will be involved in the exercise as active observer).
The press release recalls that the exercise, that will be conducted in WEU and NATO Headquarters, in NATO Strategic Commands (SHAPE and Saclant), and in national capitals, without any troops being actually deployed, is based on a Petersberg mission scenario (peace support mission) leading to a WEU-led operation making use of NATO assets and capabilities. The aim of the exercise is to test WEU and appropriate NATO crisis management mechanisms and procedures as well as the consultation arrangement between WEU and NATO, including the interaction between each of the organisation's headquarters and the respective member countries.