Press Communiqu M-2- EAPC(98)145 8 Dec. 1998

Updated Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) Action Plan 1998 - 2000 Section I Short-Term Planning Organisation of EAPC work (Inter-Ministerial work schedule, including political and security-related consultations and practical cooperation) As a follow-up to each regular meeting of EAPC Foreign Ministers, EAPC Ambassadors will establish a work schedule for consultations on political and security-related issues as well as on practical cooperation activities under the EAPC Action Plan, leading up to the following Ministerial meeting. Topics to be discussed in that period will be dictated by political and security-related developments and take into account the Ministerial meetings just completed, including the EAPC Defence Ministers' meeting. The schedule may be adjusted as necessary. Other meetings such as in Alliance+n and other formats will be scheduled on a case-by-case basis. The EAPC will be kept informed by its Chairman on relevant developments within the Alliance. According to the EAPC Basic Document, specific subject areas on which Allies and Partners would consult in the framework of the EAPC, may include but not be limited to: political and security related matters; crisis management; regional matters; arms control issues; nuclear, biological and chemical (NBC) proliferation and defence issues; international terrorism; defence planning and budgets and defence policy and strategy; security impacts of economic developments. There is also scope for consultations and cooperation on issues such as: civil emergency and disaster preparedness; armaments cooperation under the aegis of the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD); nuclear safety; defence related environmental issues; civil-military coordination of air traffic management and control; scientific cooperation; and issues related to peace support operations. As a working method, open-ended groups of EAPC members may prepare, on an ad-hoc basis, discussion papers on specific issues or regional security cooperation matters to stimulate focused and result-oriented discussions in the plenary session of the EAPC. The EAPC plenary would pass on ideas and suggestions for practical cooperation developed in this framework to relevant committees for any appropriate follow-up. The EAPC will consider, based on evolving practical experience, whether these working methods would need improvement, adaptation or extension. In the period leading to April 1999, preparatory work for the planned meeting of the EAPC leaders held in conjunction with the NATO Washington Summit will be part of the work schedule. Section II Long-Term Programme For Consultation And Cooperation Political And Security-Related Issues Topics Regional matters Cooperation with the OSCE and other international institutions on security issues Practical cooperation issues Other topics to be defined Activities Seminars, workshops, expert meetings, briefings and exchange of information on Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo Discussion on the role of PfP training centers and PfP Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes in future EAPC/PfP cooperation Events planned for 1999 Two seminars/workshops on regional security cooperation Meetings of NATO Regional Experts with experts from Partner countries (dates t.b.d.) Committee support EAPC in Political Committee session Staff Support International Staff, Political Affairs Division, Political Directorate Policy Planning Topic Mid- and long-term foreign and security policy issues Activities Meetings of NATO's Atlantic Policy Advisory Group in EAPC format Events planned for 1999 One meeting of APAG in EAPC format to be held in Azerbaijan Committee support EAPC in Political Committee session Staff Support International Staff, Political Affairs Division, Political Directorate Arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation issues Topics Arms control Political and defence efforts against proliferation of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and missiles. Arms trafficking, control of small arms transfers, and means of encouraging de-mining Activities Consultations and expert meetings Events planned for 1999 One meeting of EAPC/PC with disarmament experts (date t.b.d.) Ad hoc consultations on proliferation Committee support EAPC in Political Committee session Staff Support International Staff, Political Affairs Division, Political Directorate; Defence Planning and Operations Division Implementation of arms control agreements Topics Conventional arms control, implentation and verification Activities Consultations and expert meetings, seminars, workshops Training and courses on support of arms control implementation Events planned for 1999 Two courses on general arms control orientation at NATO School, Oberammergau for all EAPC members (22-26 February and 17-21 May 1999) Continuation and adaptation of programme of Joint Multilateral Inspection Teams for CFE Cooperation Partners Continuation of operation and development of the VERITY database Seminar(s) on implementation of conventional arms control agreements (including CFE) as appropriate Committee support Verification and Coordination Committee Staff Support International Staff, Political Affairs Division, Political Directorate International Terrorism Topics Identifying threats from international terrorism Activities Meetings with the NATO Special Committee Events planned for 1999 Meeting(s) of the EAPC/PC with the Special Committee (date t.b.d.) Committee support Special Committee in EAPC format Staff Support International Staff/NATO Office of Security Peacekeeping Topics Common understanding of concepts and principles related to peacekeeping operations, including: humanitarian aspects of peacekeeping and civil-military relations; lessons learned from peacekeeping operations Political-military framework for NATO-led PfP operations Activities Meetings of the EAPC/PMSC Ad Hoc Group on Cooperation in Peacekeeping, inviting where appropriate international organisations and other concerned groups (dates t.b.d.) Expanded contacts and dialogue with the United Nations and OSCE on conceptual approaches to peacekeeping Meetings of the Policy Coordination Group with EAPC Partners Events planned for 1999 A seminar on humanitarian aspects of peacekeeping operations (t.b.d.) Committee support EAPC/PMSC Ad Hoc Group on Cooperation in Peacekeeping Policy Coordination Group Staff Support International Staff, Political Affairs Division, Political Directorate; Defence Planning and Operations Division Defence Economic Issues Topics Defence related issues Resource management in defence spending Transparency in defence planning and budgeting Transition from conscript to professional army Military base closures Restructuring of defence industries (including privatisation) Security aspects of economic developments - selected issues (e.g. regional cooperation, shadow economy, investment climate) Economic aspects of enhanced partnership Activities Seminars, Workshops, Expert meetings, Annual Colloquium Events planned for 1999 Seminar in Skopje on Infrastructure Relationship and Transfrontier Economic Cooperation in South Eastern Europe (March 1999) Seminar in Vilnius on Cost Benefit Analysis of Defence Spending (May 1999) Annual NATO Economics Colloquium (June 1999) Seminar in Riga on Economic Aspects of Military Base Management (October 1999) Meeting on Financial Assessment and Planning of Defence Budgets and Expenditures (date to be determined) Seminar in Vienna on The Role of the Private Sector in Defence (to be confirmed - date to be determined) Exchanges on Real Cost of Defence as Measured in Purchasing Power Parities (format to be determined) Committee support EAPC in Economic Committee Session Staff Support International Staff/Political Affairs Division/Economics Directorate, to be coordinated with other Divisions where necessary Science Topics Participation in the Science for Peace Programme Cooperation in other NATO science programmes involving primarily, but not exclusively, priority areas to be determined annually in consultation with Partner countries (1) Activities Supporting applied science and technology projects that relate to industrial, environmental or security-related problems; Meeting of Science Committee in EAPC format at least once a year; Participation of scientists from partner countries in Advanced Study Institutes (ASI) and Advanced Research Workshops (ARW), as well as the holding of such meetings in Partner countries; Participation of scientists from Partner countries in Collaborative Research Grants, Linkage Grants, Science Fellowships and Expert Visit Grants; Sending proceedings of NATO's scientific meetings to a central library in each eligible Partner country and disseminating other literature on the Science Programme to scientists in Partner countries; Sponsoring visits of experts from Partner countries when invited by project directors in NATO member countries; Assisting Partners through the use of NATO's network of referees and experts; Examining how computer networks can facilitate contacts and promote more effective cooperation among scientists through the use of Networking Infrastructure Grants and Networking Supplements to Linkage Grants Committee support Science Committee in EAPC format Staff Support International Staff/Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division Challenges of modern societies (CCMS) Topics Defence-related environmental issues Additional pilot study topics of interest to Partners Activities Meeting of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society in EAPC format at least once a year; Participation of Partners' experts in pilot study meetings, workshops, conferences, seminars, and holding pilot study meetings in Partner countries; Dissemination of information on CCMS pilot studies, workshops, conferences and seminars, as well as approved reports to Partners; The following pilot study topics to be pursued in 1999 will be subject to annual revision thereafter in consultation with Partners: Environmental aspects of reusing former military lands Protecting civil populations from toxic material spills during movements of military goods Management of industrial toxic wastes and substances research Evaluation of demonstrated and emerging remedial action technologies for the treatment of contaminated land and groundwater Methodology, focalisation, evaluation and scope of the environmental impact assessment Environment and security in an international context Environmental management systems in the military sector Active consideration of new pilot study proposals made by either NATO or Partner countries Follow-up to the Workshop on Military Activities in the Environment, held in Warsaw 8-10 June 1998. Committee support Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society in EAPC format Staff Support International Staff/Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division Information Topics Contribution to increased understanding of NATO and its policies and to a more informed debate on security matters Exploration of expectations including public expectations of the information programme Activities Information about NATO and its policies will be made available to target audiences in cooperation partner countries, including selected institutions and organizations, inter alia through embassies of NATO member countries serving as contact points and other diplomatic liaison channels Continue and further intensify information-related cooperation with institutions established in cooperation partner countries interested and able to provide the necessary facilities, support personnel and services Visits to NATO by target groups Sponsorship of a number of experts from cooperation partner countries to attend security-related seminars in Allied countries Co-sponsorship with cooperation partners of seminars/workshops in cooperation partner countries Presentations by NATO speakers in cooperation partner countries Fellowships for academics (individual and institutional support) Increased dissemination of NATO documentation and information materials in languages of cooperation partners, and dissemination of information by electronic means Distribution of NATO video footage and photos Press tours to NATO and Partner countries Events planned for 1999 One meeting of the Committee on Information and Cultural Relations (CICR) with EAPC partners (date t.b.d.) NATO's 50th Anniversary Conference to celebrate 5 years of PfP hosted by Romania. Committee support Committee on Information and Cultural Relations (CICR) in EAPC format Staff Support International Staff/Office of Information and Press Section III Civil emergency planning and disaster preparedness Topics Civil Emergency Planning and Disaster Preparedness Activities Further development of a Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response capability (This effort will include cooperation with UN bodies responsible for disaster relief) Committee support Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee in EAPC format Staff Support The EADRCC, International Staff/Infrastructure, Logistics and Civil Emergency Planning Division, NMA's as appropriate Section IV PfP areas of cooperation As stipulated by the EAPC Basic Document, Partnership for Peace in its enhanced form will be a clearly identifiable element within the flexible framework created by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. PfP will maintain the Alliance+1 character reflected in the Individual Partnership Programmes, as well as the principle of self-differentiation. In that context, PfP will provide increased scope for regional cooperation activities. Topics and activities undertaken in the PfP are included in the PfP Partnership Work Programme which is a separate document. Below are listed the generic agreed areas of cooperation that will be updated every two years. Air Defence related matters (ADF) Airspace Management/Control (ASM) Consultation, Command and Control, Including Communications and Information Systems, Navigation and Identification Systems, Interoperability Aspects, Procedures and Terminology (C3) Civil Emergency Planning (CEP) Crisis Management (CRM) Democratic Control of Forces and Defence Structures (DCF) Defence Planning, Budgeting and Resource Management (DPB) Planning, Organisation and Management of National Defence Procurement Programmes and International Cooperation in the Armaments Field (DPM) Defence Policy and Strategy (DPS) Planning, Organisation and Management of National Defence Research and Technology (DRT) Military Geography (GEO) Language Training (LNG) Consumer Logistics (LOG) Medical Services (MED) Meteorological Support for NATO/Partner Forces (MET) Military Infrastructure (MIF) NBC Defence and Protection (NBC) Conceptual, Planning and Operational Aspects of Peacekeeping (PKG) Operational, Materiel and Administrative Aspects of Standardisation (STD) Military Exercises and Related Training Activities (TEX) Military Education, Training and Doctrine (TRD) Footnotes An initiative is currently underway to restructure the Science Programme to implement the North Atlantic Council decision of March 1998 to completely redirect it to Partner activity.