Brussels, 27/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Monday, the EU Council adopted joint action defining a framework for the EU's military mission when it takes over the NATO-led mission in Macedonia, Allied Harmony (for which the mandate ends on 15 February). The decision, to take effect on 1 February, allows the EU to hold formal talks with NATO in order to finalise the permanent arrangements that are to govern the use of NATO assets by the EU for ESDP operations. "Given the number of informal meetings that have already been held, this will go very fast", one Council source said, confirming that the mission is to begin during March. Once the NATO/EU agreement has been signed, the 450-strong Union mission with a six-month mandate may begin. In the meantime, the Union must above all develop its plan for operations (we recall that Denmark does not take part in the financing of military operations, or in the finalisation or implementation of decisions in this field).
The Council has appointed a commander-in-chief for operations, Admiral Feist (NATO's Deputy Supreme Commander) and has decided to establish an operational headquarters at SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe), two details to be formally accepted by NATO. Furthermore, a commander on the ground will also be designated. The Council reached an agreement on the "joint" costs, namely barracks for housing all the troops, and the amount of such financing: EUR 4,700,000. The other costs, and the transport of troops as a whole, will be borne by the States taking part in the operation depending on their level of involvement. The Security and Political Committee (COPS) will be responsible for the political control and the strategic management of the mission, with decision-making powers remaining in the hands of the Council assisted by the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana. In addition to the ten future members of the EU, the non-EU members of NATO and any other third country invited may take part in the mission. The countries making a significant military contribution will have the same rights and obligations concerning the everyday management of operations as the Member States (COPS may even decide to create a committee of contributors). The commander of the operations will report solely to the European institutions whereas NATO will be informed by the COPS (some classified information may be forwarded to NATO and to partner third countries, pursuant to the Council regulation in this connection). Contacts and meetings between the EU and NATO will be held throughout the operation at the COPS and Alliance Council levels, as well as on the ground between NATO and EU commanders in the region. NATO will be kept informed of the use of its assets by the EU and naturally of the eventual COPS decision to be put to the Council at the end of the operation. Finally, the status of EU troops will be the subject of an agreement with the government of Macedonia.
Before the debate on the Council's operational programme for 2003 (which will be largely devoted to the Balkans, on Tuesday), the External Relations Council adopted, on Monday, conclusions on the Balkans whereby: - it welcomes the progress recently made in Yugoslavia, with the adoption of the Constitutional Charter of Serbia-Montenegro and its implementation law, and calls on the Parliament for rapid implementation; - it congratulates Bosnia-Herzegovina for the formation of governments at the level of the State and the Srpska Republic, and hopes the Federation government will be rapidly formed. Furthermore, it insists that necessary reforms will be put rapidly in place within the context of the stabilisation and association process, especially the creation of a single customs and taxation system; - the lack of progress in this connection could slow down the launch of a feasibility study on a stabilisation and association agreement, Community sources said; - while welcoming the fact that the former President of Serbia, Milan Milutinovic, is appearing before the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), it considers that Yugoslavia's cooperation with the ICTY is still insufficient and again calls on more countries of the region to work in full cooperation with the Tribunal.