Luxembourg, 09/04/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the General Affairs Council confirmed the nomination for three years of the Finnish General, Gustav Hagglund, to the head of the Military Committee, following the recommendation from the interim Military Committee adopted last 26 March (see EUROPE of 26/27 March, p.5, of 28 March, p.3 and 31 March, p.3). In line with this, the Council approved the transformation of the "interim" Committee into a "permanent" Committee.
Italy, which had not hidden its disappointment after the defeat by one vote of its candidate, General Mario Arpino called for the issue of the Danish participation in the EU decisions in terms of defence to be clarified, since Copenhagen has an opt-out clause in this area. Denmark indicated that it was preparing a study on this issue in view of the next EU Council Presidency (during the second half of 2002: Ed).