NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

NATO-EU: a strategic partnership

Sharing strategic interests, NATO and the European Union (EU) cooperate on issues of common interest and are working side by side in crisis-management, capability development and political consultations. At the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, the Allies underlined their determination to improve the NATO-EU strategic partnership.

• Framework for cooperation (March 2003)

  An exchange of letters between the NATO Secretary General and the EU Presidency in January 2001 defined the scope of cooperation and modalities of consultation on security issues between the two organizations. Cooperation further developed with the signing of the NATO-EU Declaration on ESDP in December 2002 and the agreement, in March 2003, of a framework for cooperation.

  NATO and the EU meet on a regular basis to discuss issues of common interest. Meetings take place at different levels including at the level of foreign ministers, ambassadors, military representatives and defence advisors. There are regular staff contacts at all levels between NATO’s International Staff and International Military Staff, and their respective EU interlocutors (Council Secretariat, European External Action Service, EU Military Staff, European Defence Agency, Commission and European Parliament).

  Permanent military liaison arrangements have been established to facilitate cooperation at the operational level. A NATO Permanent Liaison Team has been operating at the EU Military Staff since November 2005 and an EU Cell was set up at SHAPE (NATO’s strategic command for operations in Mons, Belgium) in March 2006.

  NATO-EU Declaration on ESDP

  The NATO-EU Declaration on ESDP, agreed on 16 December 2002, reaffirmed the EU assured access to NATO’s planning capabilities for its own military operations and reiterated the political principles of the strategic partnership: effective mutual consultation; equality and due regard for the decision-making autonomy of the European Union and NATO; respect for the interests of EU and NATO members states; respect for the principles of the Charter of the United Nations; and coherent, transparent and mutually reinforcing development of the military capability requirements common to the two organizations.

  The “Berlin-Plus” arrangements

  As part of the framework for cooperation adopted on 17 March 2003, the so-called “Berlin-Plus” arrangements provide the basis for NATO-EU cooperation in crisis management by allowing the European Union to have access to NATO's collective assets and capabilities for EU-led operations, including command arrangements and assistance in operational planning. In effect, they allow the Alliance to support EU-led operations in which NATO as a whole is not engaged.

• Cooperation in the field

  The Western Balkans

  In July 2003, the European Union and NATO published a ″Concerted Approach for the Western Balkans″. Jointly drafted, it outlines core areas of cooperation and emphasises the common vision and determination both organizations share to bring stability to the region.

  • The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ³
    On 31 March 2003, the EU-led Operation Concordia took over the responsibilities of the NATO-led mission, Operation Allied Harmony, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This mission, which ended in December 2003, was the first “Berlin Plus” operation in which NATO assets were made available to the European Union.
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
    Building on the results of Concordia and following the conclusion of the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union deployed a new mission called Operation Althea on 2 December 2004. The EU force (EUFOR) operates under the “Berlin-Plus” arrangements, drawing on NATO planning expertise and on other Alliance’s assets and capabilities. The NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe is the Commander of Operation Althea. The EU Operation Headquarters (OHQ) is located at SHAPE.
  • Kosovo
    NATO has been leading a peacekeeping force in Kosovo (KFOR) since 1999. The European Union has contributed civil assets to the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) for years and agreed to take over the police component of the UN Mission. The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), which deployed in December 2008, is the largest civilian mission ever launched under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). The central aim is to assist and support the Kosovo authorities in the rule of law area, specifically in the police, judiciary and customs areas. EULEX works closely with KFOR in the field.

  Cooperation in other regions

  • Afghanistan
    NATO and the European Union are playing key roles in bringing peace and stability to Afghanistan, within the international community’s broader efforts to implement a comprehensive approach in their efforts to assist the country. The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force helps create a stable and secure environment in which the Afghan government as well as other international actors can build democratic institutions, extend the rule of law and reconstruct the country. NATO welcomed the EU’s launch of an CSDP Rule of Law mission (EUPOL) in June 2007. The European Union has also initiated a programme for justice reform and is helping to fund civilian projects in NATO- run Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) that are led by an EU member country.
  • Darfur
    Both NATO and the EU supported the African Union’s mission in Darfur, Sudan, in particular with regard to airlift rotations.
  • Piracy
    Since September 2008, NATO and EU naval forces are deployed side by side (respectively Ocean Shield and EUNAVFOR Atalanta), with other actors, off the coast of Somalia for anti-piracy missions.

   

  3. Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.

• Other areas of cooperation

  Capabilities

  Together with operations, capability development is an area where cooperation is essential and where there is potential for further growth. The NATO-EU Capability Group was established in May 2003 to ensure the coherence and mutual reinforcement of NATO and EU capability development efforts.

  Following the creation, in July 2004, of the European Defence Agency (EDA) to coordinate work within the European Union on the development of defence capabilities, armaments cooperation, acquisition and research, EDA experts contribute to the work of the Capability Group.

  Among other issues, the Capability Group has addressed common capability shortfalls in areas such as countering improvised explosive devices and medical support. The Group is also playing an important role in ensuring transparency and complementarity between NATO’s work on “Smart Defence” and the EU’s Pooling and Sharing initiative.

  Terrorism and WMD proliferation

  Both NATO and the European Union are committed to combat terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They have exchanged information on their activities in the field of protection of civilian populations against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) attacks. The two organizations also cooperate in the field of civil emergency planning by exchanging inventories of measures taken in this area.

  New areas of cooperation

  Since the adoption of NATO’s new Strategic Concept at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, which identifies the need for the Alliance to address emerging security challenges, several new areas of cooperation with the EU are under consideration,  in particular energy security issues and cyber defence. In this context, NATO and the EU staffs are having consultations in order to identify the specific areas in which the two organisations could enhance their cooperation in the field of cyber defence.

• Participation

  The organisations have 21 member countries in common. Albania, Croatia⁴, Canada, Iceland, Norway, Turkey, and the United States, which are members of NATO but not of the EU, participate in all NATO-EU meetings. So do Austria, Finland, Ireland, Sweden, and since 2008, Malta, which are members of the EU and of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme.

  However, Cyprus which is not a PfP member and does not have a security agreement with NATO on the exchange of classified documents, cannot participate in official NATO-EU meetings. This is a consequence of decisions taken by NATO and the EU in December 2002. Informal meetings including Cyprus take place occasionally at different levels (foreign ministers, ambassadors and military delegates).

  4. Croatia will join the European Union on 1 July 2013.

• Key milestones

  Feb 1992	The EU adopts the Maastricht Treaty, which envisages an intergovernmental Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and the eventual framing of a common defence policy (ESDP), with the WEU as the EU's defence component.
  	Close cooperation established between NATO and the WEU.
  June 1992	In Oslo, NATO foreign ministers support the objective of developing the WEU as a means of strengthening the European pillar of the Alliance and as the defence component of the EU, that would also cover the “Petersberg tasks” (humanitarian search and rescue tasks, peace-keeping tasks, crisis management tasks including peace enforcement, and environmental protection).
  Jan 1994	Allied leaders agree to make collective assets of the Alliance available, on the basis of consultatons in the North Atlantic Council, for WEU operations undertaken by the European allies in pursuit of their Common Foreign and Security Policy.NATO endorses the concept of Combined Joint Task Forces, which provides for “separable but not separate” deployable headquarters that could be used for European-led operations and is the conceptual basis for future operations involving NATO and other non-NATO countries.
  June 1996	In Berlin, NATO foreign ministers agree for the first time to build up an ESDI within NATO, with the aim of rebalancing roles and responsibilities between Europe and North America. An essential part of this initiative was to improve European capabilities. They also decide to make Alliance assets available for WEU-led crisis management operations. These decisions lead to the introduction of the term "Berlin-Plus".
  Dec 1998	At a summit in St Malo, France and the United Kingdom make a joint statement affirming the EU's determination to establish a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
  April 1999	At the Washington Summit, Heads of State and Government decide to develop the “Berlin-Plus” arrangements.
  June 1999	European Council meeting in Cologne decides "to give the European Union the necessary means and capabilities to assume its responsibilities regarding a common European policy on security and defence".
  Dec 1999	At the Helsinki Council meeting, EU members establish military "headline goals" to allow the EU, by 2003, to deploy up to 60 000 troops for ‘Petersberg tasks'. EU members also create political and military structures including a Political and Security Committee, a Military Committee and a Military Staff. The crisis management role of the WEU is transferred to the EU. The WEU retains residual tasks.
  Sep 2000	The North Atlantic Council and the interim Political and Security Committee of the European Union meet for the first time to take stock of progress in NATO-EU relations.
  Dec 2000	Signature of the EU's Treaty of Nice containing amendments reflecting the operative developments of the ESDP as an independent EU policy (entry into force February 2003).
  Jan 2001	Beginning of institutionalised relations between NATO and the EU with the establishment of joint meetings, including at the level of foreign ministers and ambassadors. Exchange of letters between the NATO Secretary General and the EU Presidency on the scope of cooperation and modalities for consultation.
  May 2001	First formal NATO-EU meeting at the level of foreign ministers in Budapest. The NATO Secretary General and the EU Presidency issue a joint statement on the Western Balkans.
  Nov 2002	At the Prague Summit, NATO members declare their readiness to give the EU access to NATO assets and capabilities for operations in which the Alliance is not engaged militarily.
  Dec 2002	EU-NATO Declaration on ESDP.
  Mar 2003	Agreement on the framework for cooperation. Entry into force of a NATO-EU security of information agreement.Transition from the NATO-led operation 'Allied Harmony' to the EU-led Operation 'Concordia' in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia¹
  May 2003	First meeting of the NATO-EU capability group.
  July 2003	Development of a common strategy for the Western Balkans.
  Nov 2003	First joint NATO-EU crisis-management exercise.
  Feb 2004	France, Germany and the United Kingdom launch the idea of EU rapid reaction units composed of joint battle groups.
  Dec 2004	Beginning of the EU-led Operation Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
  Sep 2005	Transatlantic (NATO-EU) informal ministerial dinner (New York).
  Oct 2005	Agreement on Military Permanent Arrangements establishing a NATO Liaison Team at EUMS and an EU cell at SHAPE.
  Nov 2005	NATO Permanent Liaison Team set up at the EU Military Staff.
  Mar 2006	EU Cell set up at SHAPE.
  Apr 2006	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (Sofia)
  Sep 2006	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (New York)
  Jan 2007	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (Brussels)
  Apr 2007	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (Oslo)
  Sep 2007	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (New York)
  Dec 2007	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (Brussels)
  Sep 2008	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (New York)
  Dec 2008	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (Brussels)
  Mar 2009	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (Brussels)
  Sep 2010	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (New York)
  Dec 2010	At the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, the Allies underline their determination to improve the NATO-EU strategic partnership and welcome recent initiatives from several Allies and ideas proposed by the Secretary General to enhance the NATO-EU cooperation. NATO’s new Strategic Concept states that an active and effective European Union contributes to the overall security of the Euro-Atlantic area and that therefore the EU is an essential partner for NATO.
  Sep 2011	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (New York)
  Sep 2012	Transatlantic informal ministerial dinner gathering NATO and EU Foreign Affairs ministers (New York)