Brussels, 18/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - Few foreign ministers - the American Secretary of State, the French, German and Belgian, Turkish and Norwegian ministers - took part in the working dinner of the EU and NATO Councils in Brussels on Friday, with the Secretaries General of the EU and NATO Councils, Javier Solana and George Robertson, whereas the other members of the European Union and Atlantic Alliance were represented at deputy-minister, political director or ambassador level.
The meeting - the first of its type - was held in a relatively difficult situation, the Alliance not being able to offer EU automatic access to its assets to lead "Petersberg"-type operations (see below). Efforts aimed at reaching an agreement will now continue, in particular, within EU/NATO working parties on European security and defence policy, whereas the European Union will continue its own work in view of the "Headline Goal" of a rapid reaction force amounting to some 60,000 troops (around 100,000 if account is taken of the necessary rotation).