Brussels, 27/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - European Union defence ministers are to meet in Wiesbaden on 1 and 2 March for an informal meeting under the chairmanship of German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung. EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana will attend the meeting that is to begin with a working session on military operations as well as a briefing on civil missions. Discussions will above all cover the continuing stabilisation effort in the Balkans, with three major subjects on the table: - the plan to cut troop numbers in Bosnia-Herzegovina; - the state of progress of work concerning the civil police mission and the rule of law mission in Kosovo; - and cooperation between the EU and NATO. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was invited to be part of the gathering.
On Friday, the second working session will be on military cooperation between the EU and the United Nations. Experience gained from the EU operation in Kinshasa is expected to fuel the debates. Before leaving each other, ministers will tackle the development of military capabilities and that of a European industrial and technological defence base. After the meeting, the German defence minister and the high representative will brief Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia (candidates for EU accession), as well as Norway and Iceland, on the results of the informal meeting. (oj)