Brussels, 06/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) and the North Atlantic Council (NAC) discussed the finishing touches to the permanent arrangements between the EU and NATO, that are to govern the use of NATO assets by the EU for operations under ESDP according to the Berlin+ agreement (see EUROPE of 14 December, p.6), and, in that context, the state of progress of the mission in Macedonia which the EU is to take over from NATO, Allied Harmony. Javier Solana EU High Representative for CFSP, and Lord Robertson, NATO Secretary General, also discussed the situation in Iraq (see above).
In accordance with the join action adopted on 26 January and which took effect on 1 February (see EUROPE of 28 January, p.7), the EU is continuing to prepare for its future action in Macedonia (that still has no name) and, in particular, the operational plan (OPLAN) on which the military is working. However, this plan (the content of which will be fairly similar to that of NATO) may only be finalised by the commander in chief of the European mission. Although already appointed by the Council, it is Admiral Feist (Deputy Supreme Commander at NATO - D-SACEUR), NATO has not yet formally accepted this appointment. In a letter sent to Javier Solana, Lord Robertson states that the agreement of all countries members of NATO is a precondition for the official approval of the nomination. "We hope that will occur swiftly as the mission's progress depends on it", said a Council source, hoping that it will come in the next few days. Once formalised, the last preparations for the launch of the European mission on the ground (scheduled for March) will still depend on two "formalities": NATO's decision to end its mission, when reviewing its mandate before end-February, and its formal approval by the Council.