Brussels, 28/03/2003 (Agence Europe) - As previously indicated (see EUROPE 19 March p 5), the European Union will take over from NATO's Allied Harmony" military stabilisation programme on 31 March in Skopje in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). On Thursday at the EU's first military operation, "Concordia", High level European civilian and military leaders informed the press of the importance of the vent. Therefore, CFSP High Representative welcomed this first time action occurring in "uncertain times" and which, once the action is completed, should indicate to Member States that external EU action should not be hindered by the divisions provoked by the Iraqi crisis. Concretely, it is admitted that there is still a lot to do in stabilising the Balkans, while pointing out that the operation was in response to an invitation by President Traïkovski, who has just received the unanimous support of the Macedonian Parliament and the support of FYROM's Albanian community. EU civilian and military leaders have highlighted the continuity of the Union's operation with that carried out under NATO's auspices. They successfully highlighted the importance of the permanent arrangement concluded between the EU and NATO, which will no allow the Union to use the Alliance's means and capability for European military operations (see EUROPE 12 March p 4 and 15 March p 6). The Concordia mission will last six months and will be composed of 300 soldiers and civilians. The Commander in Chief of operations will be the German Admiral, Rainer Feist and the Commander on the ground will be the French Brigadier General Pierre Maral. France is the leading nation in this operation.