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European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)
Press Release: Brussels (03-06-1999) -
Nr. 122/99 (Presse )
Declaration of the European Council on strengthening
the common European policy on security and defence
1. We, the members of the European Council, are resolved
that the European Union shall play its full role on the international
stage. To that end, we intend to give the European Union the
necessary means and capabilities to assume its responsibilities
regarding a common European policy on security and defence.
The work undertaken on the initiative of the German Presidency
and the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam permit
us today to take a decisive step forward.
In pursuit of our Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives
and the progressive framing of a common defence policy, we
are convinced that the Council should have the ability to
take decisions on the full range of conflict prevention and
crisis management tasks defined in the Treaty on European
Union, the "Petersberg tasks". To this end, the Union must
have the capacity for autonomous action, backed up by credible
military forces, the means to decide to use them, and a readiness
to do so, in order to respond to international crises without
prejudice to actions by NATO. The EU will thereby increase
its ability to contribute to international peace and security
in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.
2. We are convinced that to fully assume its tasks in the
field of conflict prevention and crisis management the European
Union must have at its disposal the appropriate capabilities
and instruments. We therefore commit ourselves to further
develop more effective European military capabilities from
the basis of existing national, bi-national and multinational
capabilities and to strengthen our own capabilities for that
purpose. This requires the maintenance of a sustained defence
effort, the implementation of the necessary adaptations and
notably the reinforcement of our capabilities in the field
of intelligence, strategic transport, command and control.
This also requires efforts to adapt, exercise and bring together
national and multinational European forces.
We also recognise the need to undertake sustained efforts
to strengthen the industrial and technological defence base,
which we want to be competitive and dynamic. We are determined
to foster the restructuring of the European defence industries
amongst those States involved. With industry we will therefore
work towards closer and more efficient defence industry collaboration.
We will seek further progress in the harmonisation of military
requirements and the planning and procurement of arms, as
Member States consider appropriate.
3. We welcome the results of the NATO Washington summit as
regards NATO support for the process launched by the EU and
its confirmation that a more effective role for the European
Union in conflict prevention and crisis management will contribute
to the vitality of a renewed Alliance. In implementing this
process launched by the EU, we shall ensure the development
of effective mutual consultation, cooperation and transparency
between the European Union and NATO.
We want to develop an effective EU-led crisis management
in which NATO members, as well as neutral and non-allied members,
of the EU can participate fully and on an equal footing in
the EU operations.
We will put in place arrangements that allow non-EU European
allies and partners to take part to the fullest possible extent
in this endeavour.
4. We therefore approve and adopt the report prepared by
the German Presidency, which reflects the consensus among
the Member States.
5. We are now determined to launch a new step in the construction
of the European Union. To this end we task the General Affairs
Council to prepare the conditions and the measures necessary
to achieve these objectives, including the definition of the
modalities for the inclusion of those functions of the WEU
which will be necessary for the EU to fulfil its new responsibilities
in the area of the Petersberg tasks. In this regard, our aim
is to take the necessary decisions by the end of the year
2000. In that event, the WEU as an organisation would have
completed its purpose. The different status of Member States
with regard to collective defence guarantees will not be affected.
The Alliance remains the foundation of the collective defence
of its Member States.
We therefore invite the Finnish Presidency to take the work
forward within the General Affairs Council on the basis of
this declaration and the report of the Presidency to the European
Council meeting in Cologne. We look forward to a progress
report by the Finnish Presidency to the Helsinki European
Council meeting.
Presidency Report on Strengthening of the
common European policy on security and defence
1. Introduction
The Treaty of Amsterdam which entered into force on 1 May
foresees the enhancement of the Common Foreign and Security
Policy (CFSP), including the progressive framing of a common
defence policy as provided in Article 17 of the TEU. The Treaty
also provides for the possibility of integrating the WEU into
the EU, should the European Council so decide.
The European Council in Vienna welcomed the new impetus given
to the debate on a common European policy in security and
defence. It considered that in order for the EU to be in a
position to play its full role on the international stage,
CFSP must be backed by credible operational capabilities.
Furthermore, it welcomed the Franco-British declaration made
on 4 December 1998 in St. Malo. The European Council invited
the German Presidency to pursue this debate and agreed to
examine the question again at the European Council in Cologne.
To this end Foreign Ministers discussed the subject at their
informal meeting in Reinhartshausen on 13/14 March and at
the General Affairs Council on 17 May.
The NATO Washington Summit welcomed the new impetus given
to the strengthening of a common European policy on security
and defence by the Amsterdam Treaty and confirmed that a stronger
European role will help contribute to the vitality of the
Alliance for the 21st century. The NATO summit furthermore
stressed that the development of a CFSP, as called for in
the Amsterdam Treaty, would be compatible with the common
security and defence policy established within the framework
of the Washington Treaty. This process will lead to more complementarity,
co-operation and synergy.
At the WEU Ministerial Council on 10 and 11 May this question
was also discussed on the basis of the informal reflection
which was initiated at the Rome Ministerial Council. Member
States will undertake efforts in line with the conclusions
of the ongoing WEU Audit of European defence capabilities.
2. Guiding Principles
The aim is to strengthen CFSP by the development of a common
European policy on security and defence. This requires a capacity
for autonomous action backed up by credible military capabilities
and appropriate decision making bodies. Decisions to act would
be taken within the framework of CFSP according to appropriate
procedures in order to reflect the specific nature of decisions
in this field. The Council of the European Union would thus
be able to take decisions on the whole range of political,
economic and military instruments at its disposal when responding
to crisis situations. The European Union is committed to preserve
peace and strengthen international security in accordance
with the principles of the UN Charter as well as the principles
of the Helsinki Final Act and the objectives of the Charter
of Paris, as provided for in Article 11 of the TEU.
The Amsterdam Treaty incorporates the Petersberg tasks ("humanitarian
and rescue tasks, peace-keeping tasks and tasks of combat
forces in crisis management, including peace-making") into
the Treaty.
The focus of our efforts therefore would be to assure that
the European Union has at its disposal the necessary capabilities
(including military capabilities) and appropriate structures
for effective EU decision making in crisis management within
the scope of the Petersberg tasks. This is the area where
a European capacity to act is required most urgently. The
development of an EU military crisis management capacity is
to be seen as an activity within the framework of the CFSP
(Title V of the TEU) and as a part of the progressive framing
of a common defence policy in accordance with Article 17 of
the TEU.
The Atlantic Alliance remains the foundation of the collective
defence of its Members. The commitments under Article 5 of
the Washington Treaty and Article V of the Brussels Treaty
will in any event be preserved for the Member States party
to these Treaties. The policy of the Union shall not prejudice
the specific character of the security and defence policy
of certain Member States.
3. Decision Making
As regards EU decision making in the field of security and
defence policy, necessary arrangements must be made in order
to ensure political control and strategic direction of EU-led
Petersberg operations so that the EU can decide and conduct
such operations effectively.
Furthermore, the EU will need a capacity for analysis of
situations, sources of intelligence, and a capability for
relevant strategic planning.
This may require in particular:
- regular (or ad hoc) meetings of the General Affairs Council,
as appropriate including Defence Ministers;
- a permanent body in Brussels (Political and Security
Committee) consisting of representatives with pol/mil expertise;
- an EU Military Committee consisting of Military Representatives
making recommendations to the Political and Security Committee;
- a EU Military Staff including a Situation Centre;
- other resources such as a Satellite Centre, Institute
for Security Studies.
Further institutional questions may need to be addressed.
Decisions relating to crisis management tasks, in particular
decisions having military or defence
implications will be taken in accordance with Article 23
of the Treaty on European Union. Member States will retain
in all circumstances the right to decide if and when their
national forces are deployed.
4. Implementation
As regards military capabilities, Member States need to develop
further forces (including headquarters) that are suited also
to crisis management operations, without any unnecessary duplication.
The main characteristics include: deployability, sustainability,
interoperability, flexibility and mobility.
For the effective implementation of EU-led operations the
European Union will have to determine, according to the requirements
of the case, whether it will conduct:
- EU-led operations using NATO assets and capabilities
or
- EU-led operations without recourse to NATO assets and
capabilities.
For EU-led operations without recourse to NATO assets and
capabilities, the EU could use national or multinational European
means pre-identified by Member States. This will require either
the use of national command structures providing multinational
representation in headquarters or drawing on existing command
structures within multinational forces. Further arrangements
to enhance the capacity of European multinational and national
forces to respond to crises situations will be needed.
For EU-led operations having recourse to NATO assets and
capabilities, including European command arrangements, the
main focus should be on the following aspects:
- Implementation of the arrangements based on the Berlin
decisions of 1996 and the Washington NATO summit decisions
of April 1999.
- The further arrangements set out by NATO at its summit
meeting in Washington should address in particular:
* assured EU access to NATO planning capabilities able
to contribute to military planing for EU-led operations;
* the presumption of availability to the EU of pre-identified
NATO capabilities and common assets for use in EU-led
operations.
5. Modalities of participation and cooperation
The successful creation of a European policy on security
and defence will require in particular:
- the possibility of all EU Member States, including non-allied
members, to participate fully and on an equal footing in
EU operations;
- satisfactory arrangements for European NATO members who
are not EU Member States to ensure their fullest possible
involvement in EU-led operations, building on existing consultation
arrangements within WEU;
- arrangements to ensure that all participants in an EU-led
operation will have equal rights in respect of the conduct
of that operation, without prejudice to the principle of
the EU's decision-making autonomy, notably the right of
the Council to discuss and decide matters of principle and
policy;
- the need to ensure the development of effective mutual
consultation, cooperation and transparency between NATO
and the EU;
- the consideration of ways to ensure the possibility for
WEU Associate Partners to be involved.
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The Presidency submits this report to the European Council
meeting in Cologne for approval and adoption.
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