Brussels, 11/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Informal EU Defence Council is to meet in Zaragoza on 22 and 23 March, chaired by Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo. In a letter addressed to his colleagues last week, Mr. Trillo said that lunch on Friday 22 March would be devoted to the inclusion of measures to combat terrorism in the second pillar (Cfsp), as desired by Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar.
Friday afternoon, talks will be on the implementation of an action plan for the development of the EU's military capabilities and EU/NATO relations. Greece is still blocking the conclusion of an EU/NATO agreement on the basis of the compromise concluded with Turkey at the end of last year, "but intensive diplomatic work" is going on, notes a diplomat (see EUROPE of 27 February, p.4). So far, implementation of the action plan adopted last November has only led to the setting up of a working party (see EUROPE of 2 March, p.5 and 26/27 February, p.5). By chance or coincidence, NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson stressed at a conference in Brussels last week that "the truth is that European aspirations and ambitions do not match to its resources". If the EU does not want the United States to move towards "unilateralism or isolation, all European countries must show themselves ready to effectively develop crisis management capabilities", said Lord Robertson.
Saturday morning, Defence Ministers will have talks on the situation in the Balkans and the possibility of a European intervention force in Macedonia. The Spanish Presidency had proposed, with the backing of France, Italy and Greece, notably, that the European Rapid Reaction Force take over from NATO's mission "Amber Fox", whose mandate has just been prolonged to 26 June. Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom are for now still reluctant and would like the agreement on the use NATO's command and logistical capabilities to be concluded first. British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon even remarked in an exchange of letters with the British Foreign Secretary that an intervention in Macedonia had a "real risk of failure", given the state of preparations of the European Rapid Reaction Force (see EUROPE of 4 and 5 March, p.4).
At NATO, diplomats are wondering about the lack of the EU's capabilities in fields such as communications, command structures, aircraft and troop transport. They also note that the EU lacks troops to assure the rear, as is currently the case for "KFOR Rear" in Macedonia. The Macedonian President, Trajkovski, repeated on his visit to Brussels that Macedonia would be "satisfied with any decision taken by jointly by the EU and NATO" (see EUROPE of 8 March, p.14). The attitude of the Macedonian authorities is said to be "globally positive" to the idea of the Europeans taking over in Macedonia, says a spokesperson for the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, after the latter had visited Washington.