Brussels, 28/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - On 28 January in Brussels, European Union defence chiefs discussed the details for the Union' military preparations in the NATO led operation "Allied Harmony" in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, following the adoption of a common position on the operation, by the Council on 27 January (see EUROPE yesterday p 7). The EU is expected to take the lead of Allied Harmony next March after a re-examination of the NATO mandate in mid-February. The meeting was attended by Admiral Rainer Feist, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe (D-SACEUR), who is expected to lead the European mission. The President of the EU military committee, General Gustav Häglund also attended, pointing out that this would be the Union's first military operation. He also stressed that it was essential that the operation was a success, "for the stability of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the whole region.