The Euro-Atlantic
Partnership - Refocusing and Renewal
I. ADAPTING OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES OF PARTNERSHIP
1. The New International Environment
1.1. NATO’s policy of Partnership and Cooperation and the PfP
have lasted for more than 10 years, and during that period the international
environment has changed. Democratic transformation in Central and most
of South-Eastern Europe has succeeded. NATO and the EU are enlarging.
The grounds have been laid for further efforts to secure and stabilise
the Balkans and to pursue integration of countries in this region into
the Euro-Atlantic structures, including the participation of Serbia and
Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina in EAPC/PfP when all the conditions
are met. Partners have joined, and contributed greatly to, NATO-led efforts
to ensure security in Europe and beyond. NATO's relations with Russia
have been put on new and solid foundations. Ukraine is making a growing
contribution to stability and security in Europe.
1.2. At the same time, the challenges to Euro-Atlantic security are
changing. The evolving threats, including terrorism, have domestic and
external sources and a transnational nature. While threats to stability
remain in the strategically important region of the Balkans and particularly
in Kosovo, events in Afghanistan, where NATO leads the ISAF operation,
have demonstrated that threats to our common security increasingly come
from the periphery of the Euro-Atlantic area. In this environment, international
stability and security will increasingly depend on domestic reform on
the one hand, and wide international co-operation on the other. These
two imperatives are inseparable, for effective security co-operation
is impossible absent basic doctrines and institutions of a fundamentally
democratic nature.
1.3. The Allies are determined that the Euro-Atlantic Partnership play
an enhanced role in both respects, taking into account the role of international
organisations and regional organisations and cooperation in these areas.
They will develop it accordingly, in close co-operation with Partners,
building upon the founding documents of PfP and EAPC and the decisions
of the Washington and Prague Summits. In doing so, Allies will take account
of NATO's continued commitment to Eastern and South East Europe, of the
need to bring more stability and security to the Caucasus and Central
Asia, and of the valuable contribution that the Western European Partners
make to NATO-led operations and Partnership programmes.
2. The Objectives of NATO's Partnership Policy
2.1. Dialogue and Co-operation: NATO will conduct political dialogue
and practical co-operation with its Partners on a broad range of international
and appropriate domestic issues of common concern, in particular those
related to terrorism and other evolving threats to security. NATO will
be prepared to develop such dialogue and co-operation in different formats,
on a geographical or functional basis, and in agreement with EAPC and
PfP principles. The Alliance will encourage and support regional initiatives
to address such issues.
2.2. Reform: NATO will enhance its efforts to promote democratic values
and foster democratic transformation across the Euro-Atlantic area. To
this end, the Alliance will provide interested Partners with political
and practical advice on, and assistance in, the defence and security-related
aspects of the domestic reform, including armed forces under civilian
and democratic control. NATO will also encourage larger policy and institutional
reform and support it within its competence and resources, complementing
efforts by other international organisations.
2.3. Operations: NATO will continue to prepare interested Partners for
participation in NATO-led operations. For this purpose, it will cooperate
with all Partners, giving greater attention to their individual abilities
and interests, in order to support their efforts to develop military
interoperability and transform their defence in keeping with NATO's own
evolving operational role and capabilities.
2.4. Enlargement: NATO will continue through Partnership for Peace to
support Partners who wish to join the Alliance, consistent with the Open
Door policy enshrined in the Washington Treaty and the PfP Invitation
Document.
3. Current Priorities
3.1. Geographic Priority – Special Focus on the regions of Caucasus
and Central Asia
3.1.1. NATO will continue to engage, and promote democratic transformation
in, and regional co-operation between, Partner countries in Eastern and
South-East Europe, including the Republic of Moldova. However, in response
to the changing international environment, the Alliance will put special
focus on engaging with Partners in the strategically important regions
of Caucasus and Central Asia. As a result of the accession of seven former
Partners to NATO, where possible and appropriate, NATO will refocus existing
resources toward these two regions, consistent with NATO's long term
strategy to enhance stability across the Euro-Atlantic area by encouraging
and supporting reform.
3.1.2. NATO will give priority to these countries in implementing the
existing and new co-operation programmes, in particular IPAP, PAP-DIB,
PARP and PAP-T. NATO will pay special attention to the individual needs
of those Partners who have demonstrated the willingness and commitment
to participate in these programmes, will provide enhanced training and
education, and will strive to help them manage the consequences of defence
reform, including through the PfP trust fund mechanism. IPAP in particular
could lead to a qualitatively enhanced political dialogue focused on
creating the domestic and external environment specific to each country
conducive to domestic reform, assessing Partners' reform progress, and
facilitating more targeted Allied assistance.
3.1.3. To improve communication and support work with Partners in the
Caucasus and Central Asia, NATO will:
- consider ways to enhance committee and staff support for Partnership
activities within existing structures and resources, including through
visits from and to these Partners;
- enhance the role of NATO Contact Point Embassies (CPEs), including
by expanding their mandate;
- expand the scope of national, committee and staff support to
the CPEs;
- intensify work with the Missions to NATO from these countries;
- encourage exchange of information and co-operation with and
between national Allied defence or military advisors working
as experts
in these countries; and
- nominate Secretary General's Special Representative for
the Caucasus and for Central Asia from among existing International
Staff.
3.1.4. In addition to these steps, Allies will give positive consideration
to the requests of Partner countries for enhanced local NATO representation
provided that they:
- demonstrate active commitment to principles and goals expressed
in PfP and EAPC basic documents, and their readiness to engage
in relevant
reforms, in particular through the IPAP,
- demonstrate their determination to undertake defence reform along
democratic lines as defined in particular in the PAP-DIB,
- manifest the will for substantial practical co-operation
with NATO, including in support of NATO operations, and;
- offer to provide resources to host NATO representation
in their defence institutions or other office premises.
3.1.4.1. To respond in a balanced way to such requests, and to assist
and provide advice to these Partners in implementing co-operation programmes
and activities focused on PARP, and relevant aspects of IPAP, PAP-DIB
and PAP-T, the North Atlantic Council has decided to appoint one NATO
Officer for the Caucasus and one NATO Officer for Central Asia, to be
embedded preferably within the appropriate institutions dealing with
defence and PfP issues of the host nation. The terms of reference of
those officers will be consistent with the General Guidelines on NATO
Offices in Non-NATO Countries and their mandate will be reviewed in light
of the criteria set out above.
3.2. Substantive Priorities - Meeting the Challenges of Today
3.2.1. Reform – Laying the Foundations for Modern Defence Systems:
Pursuing a broad agenda of democratic transformation, NATO will give
priority to helping Partner Nations, in particular those in the Caucasus
and Central Asia, to develop modern and democratically responsible
defence institutions, which will be able to support international security
co-operation.
3.2.2. Operations – Enhancing Partner Contributions: Continuing
to develop general Partner capabilities important to, and interoperable
with, the Alliance, NATO will particularly promote the development
of Partner capabilities that provide a unique or high-value contribution,
including through a challenging exercise programme.
3.2.3. Dialogue and Co-operation – Fighting against Terrorism:
In all co-operative efforts, NATO will pay particular attention to
dialogue, exchange of expertise and developing mechanisms and instruments
for enabling
Partner contributions to the Alliance's response to terrorism and
protection of civilian populations against Weapons of Mass Destruction.
II. MATCHING THE ENDS AND MEANS - NEW CO-OPERATION INITIATIVES
4. To ensure substantive progress towards Partnership objectives and
priorities, NATO will continue pursuing vigorously the Partnership initiatives
undertaken at the Washington and Prague Summits and will encourage Partners
to make the full use of all instruments offered in the Comprehensive
Review of EAPC and PfP. NATO will also take further steps to develop
and complement these initiatives. While taking these steps, NATO expects
all Partners to fulfil their commitments to the protection and promotion
of fundamental freedoms, human rights and other fundamental values embedded
in the basic documents of PfP and EAPC. For its part, NATO will enhance
its efforts to encourage and assist Partners to implement these values
through the new co-operation initiatives.
4.1. Reform
4.1.1. NATO will support vigorously the implementation of the Partnership
Action Plan on Defence Institution Building (PAP-DIB). This Plan offers
Allies and all Partners a common political and conceptual platform for
bilateral and multilateral co-operation in developing efficient and democratically
responsible defence institutions. PAP-DIB will help define objectives
and priorities of work in this area, foster resource efficiency, and
encourage exchange of experience among all Allies and Partners. IPAP
and PARP will serve as primary instruments for pursuing commonly recognised
reform objectives formulated in PAP-DIB. Multilateral activities, including
in regional context, will complement this work. Possible measures to
facilitate and harmonise operational co-operation between Partner security
structures will also be considered.
4.1.2. NATO will also enhance support to those Nations engaged in IPAP,
including by programming of education and training in defence management
and defence reform. Such programming will seek to tap the expertise of
Partners and new Allies, which have successfully undertaken defence reform.
NATO will also launch a series of workshops on defence and security economics
with Partners participating in IPAP.
4.2. Operations
4.2.1. NATO welcomes continued Partner participation in NATO-led non-Art.5
operations. The Alliance will seek the earliest possible involvement
by troop contributing nations in the decision-shaping process. Building
on the ISAF experience, NATO could offer political consultations, including
in NAC plus format, as a regular feature of non-NATO troop contributing
Partners' association with NATO decision-making on operations in which
they participate. To further facilitate NNCN's national planning regarding
their contributions to NATO-led non-Art.5 operations, NATO will ensure
appropriate access to the relevant documentation in accordance with agreed
procedures. In the same vein, in addition to the well established interaction
with contributing Partners in the Policy Coordination Group (PCG) and
MC Working Group on Operations, meetings with non-NATO troop contributors
could take place in other appropriate MC Working Groups or, when appropriate,
in the Military Committee, as foreseen in the PMF.
4.2.2. NATO will continue to further develop and give more substance
to the Training and Education Enhancement Programme (TEEP) and the Military
Training and Exercise Programme (MTEP), including exercise activities
in the Caucasus and Central Asia. This will support NATO's growing role,
increasingly complex operational requirements and Partners' increased
participation in operations. This effort will include in particular ADL/simulation
and PfP Training Centres and will strengthen co-operation in the framework
of the PfP Consortium of Defence Academies, in particular with regard
to the Education and Training Track. It could also include exercises
to prepare military contributions for civil-military operations, including
in support for border security activities, and logistics support in and
through Partner states. NATO will encourage the creation of PfP training
centres, including those focused on the Caucasus and Central Asia.*
4.2.3. NATO has formulated modalities for encouraging participation
of Partners in the Prague Capabilities Commitment (PCC) multinational
projects.
Allies will apply this pragmatic approach in other areas of defence
transformation including with regard to the NATO Response Force (NRF).
While any eventual
Partner contributions to the NRF should be supplementary to the requirements
established for the force, both the training and exercise programme
of the NRF and the PfP training and exercise programmes should provide
opportunities
for interaction, without diminishing NRF readiness, and more generally
promote interoperability between the NRF and Partner forces. Partner
contributions could allow for enhanced operational flexibility. In
this respect, existing PfP mechanisms, such as the PARP and OCC,
need to be
exploited to promote the development of appropriate Partner contributions.
Transparency will be sought in relations with Partners with regard
to criteria for rapid response units, to facilitate the development
of their
own rapid response forces. In the same context, as part of the implementation
of the Operational Capabilities Concept, interoperability standards
and related assessments will be harmonised with respective NATO mechanisms.
4.2.4. NATO will use the implementation of the new command structure
to increase the value of participation by Partners, including by considering
new responsibilities and authorities and by better integrating them in
non-article 5 planning as feasible. In addition, Partners will be offered
appropriate representation in the Allied Command Transformation at its
HQ in Norfolk. The modalities for the PfP Staff Elements will be reviewed,
as appropriate and in accordance with NATO Security Policy; including
consideration of the establishment of PfP Staff Elements in ACT's subordinate
structures, such as the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger.
4.2.5. Building upon extensive co-operation on protection of civil populations
against WMD, opportunities will be offered to Partners for contributing
to military co-operation in this field, including on protection of troops
and, as appropriate, the CBRN battalion.
4.2.6. NATO will engage Partners more extensively in defence equipment-related
activities in the framework of the CNAD. In particular, Partners will
be associated to the greatest possible extent with equipment-related
effort to address the Prague Capabilities Commitment and the defence
against terrorism.
4.3. Dialogue and Co-operation
4.3.1. The new EAPC Security Forum will enhance high-level political
dialogue among Allies and Partners on key security issues of common concern
and will open this dialogue to the public and the civil society in Allied
and Partner countries.
4.3.2. The Partnership Action Plan against Terrorism (PAP-T) remains
the main platform for joint efforts by Allies and Partners in the fight
against terrorism. It will be further implemented and developed with
a view to enhancing practical co-operation, extending participation,
improving co-operation with other international organisations, and developing
supporting mechanisms. In particular, co-operation activities will be
undertaken, developed, or further considered in a number of areas, including
operations and exercises, training, border security and management, exchange
of information, consequence management, and small arms and light weapons
and man-portable air-defence systems.
4.3.3. EAPC/PFP Partners, along with Mediterranean Partners and selected
triple-non countries, will be invited, in accordance with agreed procedures,
taking into account their willingness and capability, and based on operational
criteria, to cooperate in Operation Active Endeavour, including through
active participation.
4.3.4. In view of the terrorist threat, NATO will enhance co-operation
with interested Partners on relevant aspects of Air Defence and Air Traffic
Management. This will include exchange of information on civil-military
air traffic procedures. Particular stress will be put on involving interested
Partners on a case-by-case basis in Air Situation Data exchange.
4.3.5. The NATO Security through Science programme will focus the combined
scientific communities of the Partner and NATO countries on key security
concerns of common interest, in particular the defence against terrorism.
4.3.6. Maritime and harbour security are important issues for Allies
and Partners alike, including all those bordering on the Black and Caspian
Seas. NATO will explore, in consultation with interested Partners, whether
and how PfP actions could add value to those Partners' co-operative efforts
in these areas. Any such actions would complement other international
efforts, and would need to be tailored to the needs of all those Partners
and of regional co-operation between them.
4.3.7. The international community is faced witch challenges posed by
transnational organised crime and its potential links with terrorism
and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Building on its
own expertise, and where it can add value, NATO will explore possibilities
for PfP co-operation in the field of border security, particularly in
connection with the fight against various forms of illegal trafficking,
particularly in arms. NATO's efforts in this field will be regional in
nature, will be in line with the constitutional framework of member states,
and will be designed to complement the work of police institutions and
the initiatives of other organisations, such as the EU and OSCE.
III. ENHANCING SUPPORTING TOOLS
5. NATO will further develop and adapt tools designed to support political
dialogue and practical co-operation:
5.1. A targeted Public Diplomacy effort will be essential in informing
Partner public opinion about objectives and priorities of Partnership,
in particular those related to domestic reform. Effective communication
means will be employed, including high-visibility Flagship Events, involving
high-level representatives of NATO and Allied nations as well as key
personalities and broad audiences in Partner countries. Seminars and
conferences in Partner countries will reflect NATO's agreed objectives
and priorities for the Euro-Atlantic Partnership. The use of the Contact
Point Embassy mechanism in pursuit of Partnership objectives and priorities
will also be optimised.
5.2. PARP, in addition to its key role in fostering military interoperability,
will be adapted to better correspond to Partnership's overall objectives
and priorities, such as to support defence reform, defence institution
building and the fight against terrorism.
5.3. Following the decisions to be taken at Istanbul with regard to
Partnership, Allies will consider reviewing the EAPC/PfP committee structure
to ensure an effective and efficient support to the enhanced Partnership
tools.
5.4. The PfP Partnership Work Programme and the EAPC Action Plan will
be replaced by a Euro-Atlantic Partnership Work Plan (EAPWP), a single
management and information tool, covering all areas of Partnership and
providing coherent politico-military guidance on all aspects of Partnership
work.
5.5. NATO funding arrangements for EAPC and PfP activities will be harmonised
and adapted to increase the flexibility in responding to Partners' individual
requests for subsidies and to help ensure a broad participation of Partners
in priority events and activities.
5.6. The NATO/PfP Trust Fund policy will ensure greater flexibility
and efficiency in helping Partners to manage the consequences of defence
reform, including destruction of surplus munitions. This will include
Partners taking the lead in developing and implementing PfP Trust Fund
projects, in accordance with agreed procedures. IV. RESOURCES
6. To ensure effective and efficient implementation of Partnership's
existing programmes and new initiatives, Allies will review the size
and distribution of NATO's budgetary and human resources devoted to the
planning and execution of co-operation programmes and activities in NATO
HQ and the military headquarters, in the light of Partnership objectives,
geographical and substantive priorities, and other outreach programmes
pursued by the Alliance. In this regard, re-prioritisation and possible
re-allocation of existing resources will become necessary.
7. Bilateral support of, and contribution to, Partnership programmes
and activities by Allies and willing Partners will be essential for ensuring
the success of the refocusing and renewal of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership.
* Note: There are currently 10 recognised PfP training centres with
different focus. The United States has recently designated the US Naval
Post-Graduate School at Monterey as a PfP Training Centre to be focused
on the Caucasus and Central Asia.
|