Brussels, 15/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - At their joint meetings on Tuesday, EU Defence Ministers and those of European countries members and non-members of NATO discussed participation of EU partner countries in European crisis management mechanisms and relations between the EU and NATO. The dispute with Turkey was not dealt with directly during the meetings, but many commentaries from diplomats on the fringe of the meetings counted on a solution by the end of the year, with stages at the NATO ministerial meeting in Hungary end-May, and at the Gothenburg Summit in June.
The Defence Ministers noted the "importance of the pledges made by partner countries" in the military sector and the intention of some of them of participating in civilian missions, said Swedish Defence Minister Bjorn von Sydow at the end of the meetings. "The importance of the link between civilian and military components in operations" was stressed, he remarked. Ministers considered "it fundamental to move along the path of cooperation with NATO, even though solutions to certain details still need finding", declared Bjorn von Sydow. Ministers attempted to clarify the mechanisms for third country participation in the European crisis management mechanism. "We asked for information on our participation in the exercise programme announced yesterday", said, for example, a Czech diplomat.
Speaking to the press, several delegations raised in clearer terms the dispute between the EU and Turkey over Ankara's participation in the European decision-making process regarding defence, which is deadlocking an agreement on the automatic use of NATO planning capabilities in case of crisis. "Things are moving forward, a few weeks ago we were able to use NATO's expertise in capabilities analysis, for example, but generally speaking there is no relaxation", Bjorn von Sydow acknowledged. He hoped that between now and the first joint exercise between the EU and NATO in 2003, "we shall be able to reach agreement".
The goal would be to find a solution by the end of the year; however nobody expects a compromise at NATO's ministerial meeting in Budapest, on 29 and 30 May. Turkey does, however, hope that the EU will show flexibility at the European Summit of Gothenburg in June, adopting a text recognising "active participation" by partner countries in the decision-making process regarding crisis-management.
"We hope for progress in Budapest, but nothing is certain, and if there is no agreement, it's not the end of the world", declared Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem. "There is broad consensus within the EU to say that a solution has to be found in the framework of NATO", declared the Swedish Minister. For its part, the EU is making efforts at fleshing-out the conclusions of the Summit of Nice in this field, he added. "Turkey is calling on European exercises to be more transparent. We understand that, as Sweden is also calling for transparency in NATO procedures, of which we are not a member. But we respect its autonomy of decision", declared Bjorn von Sydow. Without saying whether or not Turkey should be offered the status of observer, as raised by Turkish diplomatic sources, the Swedish Minister said that the EU had "offered a detailed solution to resolve the problem".
The EU retains "a peaceful attitude" and "we already have an agreement of 19 NATO members and see no interest in stepping up the pressure (…) We can already move forward on a whole series of points and it is unnecessary to focus on the Turkish issue", French Defence Minister Alain Richard told the press. Along the same lines, Germany considers that the EU has already made "Turkey a substantial offer, as well as to other European members of NATO, like Norway, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic" that have no problem with the participation being proposed. "One has to make a distinction between two aspects: decision shaping and decision making", these same sources stress, adding that "When NATO decides on participating in an operation proposed by the EU, Turkey will participate in the decisions like all other members of NATO. When NATO decides not to participate, it will be up to the EU alone to decide on its policy".
Turkey is said to have sent a letter to the Swedish Presidency a fortnight ago, to try to find a solution to the crisis. It would like to ensure that its position is taken into account in the framework of the consultation mechanism, when the EU takes decisions to intervene in the South East and the southern Mediterranean, said Turkish Foreign minister Ismail Cem, quoted by the Turkish press.