HQ. NATO 15 Dec. 1999

Statement by the State Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Mr. Jaime Gama Mr. Chairman, I would like to express my satisfaction to see you as Secretary General of NATO and I wish you the best success. Mr Chairman,In Helsinki, the European Union has given a major step in its integration process, furthering the Cologne commitment to develop a common European Security and Defence Policy. Last weekend decisions were taken to reinforce and extend the Union's comprehensive external dimension. From Cologne to Helsinki, the European Union has achieved important results in setting out European Military capabilities for Petersberg tasks; on the institutional framework for the common European Defense and Security Policy; and, of course, on the mechanisms for consultation and cooperation with the European Allies non-EU members, and with NATO. We have also reaffirmed certain fundamental principles that guide this policy, such as the commitment to act only when NATO as a whole is not engaged.In this regard, I would underline the importance of the headline goal defined by the European Council to develop by 2003 a self-sustainable corps level force of up to 15 brigades or 50.000 to 60.000 persons, with the necessary command, control and intelligence capabilities. It was also decided to create new permanent political and military bodies within the council. Mr. Chairman, We started at the Washington summit where we stressed our strong resolve to make a more coherent contribution to the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic area, through the reinforcement of the European pillar of the Alliance. While this work was being carried out in the EU and NATO, the WEU was developing an inventory of means and capabilities for European operations, which was recently approved at the Luxembourg Sternum, meeting. All these efforts can not be seen as separate endeavours, but as building blocks of a coherent Euro-Atlantic Security System. Hence the importance of consultation and co-operation in NATO, EU and WEU, which should be regarded as mutually reinforcing organisations. I can assure you, as the future EU presidency, that Portugal intends to develop institutional EU/NATO links, as well as to establish a structured dialogue with the Transatlantic and European Allies non-EU members. Mr. Chairman The "Berlin Plus" agenda is an ambitious goal for NATO. In order to proceed at a steady pace, we should take advantage, whenever possible, of the experience we have gathered. Thus, it is important that the relationship being established with the EU should build upon the links existing between NATO and WEU. And in certain aspects we will need to go. Further still. The decisions made in Washington have strengthened NATO's commitment to support European-led operations. This means that we can and should be more ambitious in enhancing the relationship between NATO and the European Union through a more consistent and purposeful dialogue. Nevertheless, the European Union still needs to acquire experience in this area and it should take advantage of the work and experience that both NATO and the WEU can offer. The interaction between the NATO international staff, the WEU military staff and the new EU military structure is essential. I would like to highlight a major event during our presidency of the WEU, the CMX/CRISEX 2000, since it tests all the procedures which will allow the weu to use nato means and capabilities for the conduction of an european led crisis management operation. These agreements constitute an important part of the "acquis" that WEU can offer to the European Union and CMX/CRISEX 2000 will strengthen the triangular relationship between the WEU, EU and NATO. Mr. Chairman, Portugal sees its upcoming joint presidency of the EU and the WEU as an opportunity to articulate the contributions that these organisations and NATO can make towards peace and security in Europe. And in time, Mr Chairman, we believe that it will be possible for the EU to become the European pillar of this Alliance. Thank you, Mr Chairman.