Brussels, 12/11/2003 (Agence Europe) - From 19-25 November, NATO and the European Union will be leading a joint crisis management exercise (CME/CMX 03) based on their consultation arrangements and cooperation in times of crisis and the "Berlin+" arrangements which determine all facets of their cooperation in the context of a strategic partnership.
The CME/CMX exercise will focus on EU planning and politico-military strategy at an EU level with a view to an EU led operation with access to NATO capability and in which NATO itself does not participate. It will be based on a fictitious crisis scenario, developed by the EU in compliance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. This scenario, indicated a press statement, will include different options for a possible crisis management operation of the Union according to Article 17.2 of the EU Treaty (humanitarian and rescue tasks, peace keeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking). It will concentrate on the crisis management phases preceding a decision to take action; therefore, no troops will be deployed.
The exercise, explains a press statement, "will focus on the "interaction between the EU and NATO at the strategic politico-military level base on a range of standing arrangements for consultation and cooperation between he two organisations in times of crisis leading to the appointment of an Operational commander and to the EU tasking for military operational planning. In this context, the relevant decisions on the involvement of the non-EU European Allies and Canada will be taken into account".
CME/CMX 03 will be conducted in Brussels and in national capitals. On the EU side, it will involve all Member States, the relevant Council instances, the Secretary-General/High Representative for CFSP, the Commission and the EU Satellite Centre. On the NATO side, all Allies will be involved, as well as all relevant bodies at NATO HQ including national Delegations and NATO's Strategic Commander's Headquarters (SHAPE). The exercise will also allow lessons to be learned from the EU led operation that is ongoing in Macedonia, "Concordia".