Brussels, 01/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - In his opening speech of the 54th academic year of the College Europe in Bruges, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer took a stance on Monday in favour of close cooperation between the EU and NATO in the fight against international terrorism. "What we want is not competition but complementarity" between the Union and the Atlantic Alliance, Mr Fischer stressed, moreover, with reference to the agreement of principles reached this weekend in Naples during the IGC conclave of EU Foreign Ministers on structured cooperation in defence (see previous pages). The enlarged EU must necessarily play a larger international role, mainly to better fight against international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the minister said.
Mr Fischer also warned against any "minimalist compromise" on the future European Constitution during the European Council of 12/13 December