Part II
Juridical texts
and formal
agreements
(1949-1997)
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Resolution
adopted by the North Atlantic Council to implement Section IV of the Final
Act of the London Conference
Paris, 22 October 1954
The North Atlantic Council:
- Recognising the necessity of strengthening the structure of the Alliance
and of reinforcing the machinery for the collective defence of Europe,
and desirous of specifying the conditions governing joint examination
of the defence effort of member countries.
- Recalls that:
- the resources which member nations intend to devote to their defence
effort as well as the level, composition and quality of the forces
which the member nations are contributing to the defence of the North
Atlantic area are each year subject to collective examination in the
NATO Annual Review for the purpose of reaching agreement on force
goals, taking into account expected mutual aid;
- the defence expenditures incurred by the member nations and the
extent to which the recommendations emerging from the Annual Review
have been carried out are the subject of periodical review during
the year.
- Agrees with the terms of the Agreement on Forces of Western European
Union; and that with respect to the forces which the members of Western
European Union will place under NATO Command on the mainland of Europe
and for which maximum figures have been established in that Agreement,
if at any time during the NATO Annual Review recommendations are put
forward, the effect of which would be to increase the level of forces
above the limits established in this Agreement, the acceptance by the
country concerned of such recommended increases shall be subject to
unanimous approval by the members of Western European Union, expressed
either in the Council of Western European Union or in the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation.
- Decides that all forces of member nations stationed in the area of
the Allied Command, Europe, shall be placed under the authority of the
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, or other appropriate NATO Command
and under the direction of the NATO military authorities with the exception
of those forces intended for the defence of overseas territories and
other forces which the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation has recognised
or will recognise as suitable to remain under national command.
- Invites member nations to make an initial report for consideration
and recognition by the Council on those forces which they plan to maintain
within the area of Allied Command, Europe, for the common defence, but
not to place under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation,
taking into account the provisions of relevant NATO directives bearing
on that subject; the initial report will include a broad statement of
the reason for which the above forces are not so placed. Thereafter,
if any changes are proposed, the North Atlantic Council action on the
NATO Annual Review will constitute recognition as to the suitability
and size of forces to be placed under the authority of the appropriate
NATO Command and those to be retained under national command.
- Notes that the agreements concluded within the framework of the Organisation
of Western European Union on the internal defence and police forces
which the members of that Organisaion will maintain on the mainland
shall be notified to the North Atlantic Council.
- Agrees, in the interest of most effective collective defence, that
in respect of combat forces in the area of Allied Command, Europe, and
under the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe:
- all deployments shall be in accordance with NATO strategy;
- the location of forces in accordance with NATO operational plans
shall be determined by the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, after
consultation and agreement with the national authorities concerned;
- forces under the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and within the
area of Allied Command, Europe, shall not be redeployed or used operationally
within that area without the consent of the Supreme Allied Commander,
Europe, subject to political guidance furnished by the North Atlantic
Council, when appropriate, through normal channels.
- Decides that:
- integration of forces at Army Group and Tactical Air Force level
shall be maintained;
- in view of the powerful combat support units and logistic support
organisation at Army level, integration at that level and associated
Air Force level will be the rule;
- wherever formations of several nationalities are operating in the
same area and on a common task, provided there are no overriding objections
from the point of view of military effectiveness; wherever military
efficiency permits, in light of the size, location and logistic support
of forces, integration at lower levels, both in the land and air forces,
shall be achieved to the maximum extent possible;
- proposals to the North Atlantic Council, indicating any increases
in commonly financed items of expenditure, such as infrastructure
which might be entailed by the adoption of such measures, should be
submitted by the NATO military authorities.
- Agrees that, in order to improve the capability of the Supreme Allied
Commander, Europe, to discharge his responibilities in the defence of
Allied Command, Europe, his responsibilities and powers for the logistic
support of the forces placed under his authority shall be extended.
- Considers that these increased responsibilities and powers should
include authority:
- to establish, in consultation with the national authorities concerned,
requirements for the provision of logistic resources;
- to determine, in agreement with the national authorities
concerned, their geographic distribution;
- to establish, in consultation with these authorities, logistic
priorities for the raising, equipping and maintenance of units;
- to direct the utilisation, for meeting his requirements, of those
portions of the logistic support systems made available to him by
the appropriate authorities;
- to coordinate and supervise the use, for logistical purposes, of
NATO common infrastructure facilities and of those national facilities
made available to him by the national authorities.
- Agrees that, in order to ensure that adequate information is obtained
and made available to the appropriate authorities about the forces placed
under the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, including reserve formations
and their logistic support within the area of Allied Command, Europe,
the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, shall be granted increased authority
to call for reports regarding the level and effectiveness of such forces
and their armaments, equipment and supplies as well as the organisation
and location of their logistic arrangements. He shall also make field
inspections within that area as necessary.
- Invites nations to submit to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe,
such reports to this end as he may call for from time to time; and to
assist inspection within the area of Allied Command, Europe, by the
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, of these forces and their logistic
support arrangements as necessary.
- Confirms that the powers exercised by the Supreme Allied Commander,
Europe, in peace-time extend not only to the organisation into an effective
integrated force of the forces placed under him but also to their training;
that in this field, the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, has direct
control over the higher training of all national forces assigned to
his command in peace-time; and that he should receive facilities from
member nations to inspect the training of those cadre and other forces
within the area of Allied Command, Europe, earmarked for that Command.
- Directs the NATO military authorities to arrange for the designation
by the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, of a high-ranking officer of
his Command who will be authorised to transmit regularly to the Council
of Western European Union information relating to the forces of the
members of Western European Union on the mainland of Europe acquired
as a result of the reports and inspections mentioned in paragraphs 11
and 12 in order to enable that Council to establish that the limits
laid down in the special agreement mentioned in paragraph 3 above are
being observed.
- Agrees that the expression ``the area of Allied Command, Europe''
as used throughout this Resolution shall not include North Africa; and
that this Resolution does not alter the present status of the United
Kingdom and United States forces in the Mediterranean.
- Directs the NATO Military Committee to initiate the necessary changes
in the directives to give effect to the above policies and objectives
of the North Atlantic Council.
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