Brussels, 30/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - The NATO Permanent Council and the EU's Political and Security Committee (PSC) are to meet again on 5 February to pursue work with a view to finalising arrangements that will allow the European Union to have access to Atlantic Alliance assets when conducting ESDP, in Macedonia for example. The arrangements, known as "Berlin +" in Alliance jargon, should normally be finalised before the command of the "Allied Harmony" mission in Macedonia is transferred. "Berlin +" should above all settle the matter of EU access to Alliance assets, and also identify the options for European operations without forgetting the legal aspects and a NATO/EU security agreement on the exchange of secret information..
Technically, the Alliance must be prepared to end its "Allied Harmony" mission and prepare for the transfer of command to the Europeans. It is understood that the D-SACEUR (Deputy SACEUR, always of European nationality) will be overall commander of the European mission in Macedonia - as other European operations - and that SHAPE will house the headquarters for these operations. There is not yet, however, a final agreement, even though there are only a few technical points left to settle, according to NATO sources. (See EUROPE of 29 January, p.5).