Meeting of the EAPC at the level of Foreign Ministers Brussels 16 Dec. 1999

Austrian Declaration on the occasion of the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Since we last met in Washington in April of this year, major developments have taken place in European security policy, The co-operation amongst partners has evolved since and the interoperability goals in the PfP-framework have had an additional boost through our combined efforts in the KFOR operation. For the EU Member States, but also for Europe as a whole, the decisions taken by the European Council in Helsinki on the strengthening of the Common European Security and Defence Policy are of outstanding importance. The European Council in Helsinki has set for the EU very ambitious goals. To enable the EU to autonomously conduct the full spectrum of Petersberg operations, its Member States must, by the year 2003, create appropriate quantitative and qualitative military capabilities. In order to avoid unnecessary duplication, EU Member States should use existing defence planning procedures, including, as appropriate, those available in NATO and the Planning and Review Process (PARP) of the PfP, thus further enhancing the practical value of the interoperability goals set to partners in this framework. A further major aspect of these developments will lie in the elaboration of modalities for full consultation, co-operation and transparency between the EU and NATO, taking into account the needs of all EU Member states, as set out in the Helsinki report. Concerning co-operation and transparency in general, Austria has a strong interest in the speedy conclusion of a security agreement between the EU and NATO. Equally, Austria expects that all EU Member States will participate on an equal footing in all stages of an EU-led operation, including in those planning and other activities which might take ptace within NATO, CMX/CRISEX 2000, the first common WEU-NATO exercise, and specifically the modalities of non-allied EU-members' involvement constitute a first test in this respect. Unfortunately, the chance was missed to grant a specific role to the European Union during this exercise. We welcome the offer. made by NATO to brief interested partners on certain aspects of a simultaneous NATO-Art. 5 exercise. We have come a long way in developing co-operation amongst partners and with NATO in the framework of the EAPC. Washington has opened the door towards a substantial enhancement of our common endeavours. As far as Austria is concerned, I am happy to announce that Austria will - for the first time - take part as Associate Member at the next plenary of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in May 2000. Among Austria's specific priorities in the EAPC work, let me mention disaster relief activities, Global Humanitarian Mine Action and the fight against the proliferation of small arms. The past year has brought about two new major peace support operations in the Balkans -first AFOR. the humanitarian operation in Albania and now KFOR. Austria opted to participate in both. Our expectations concerning the modalities of partner involvement were guided by the Political-Military framework for NATO-ted PfP operations" adopted in Washington. We believe that involving countries committing forces to a particular operation as early as possible can only be to the benefit of all partners concerned. We were, therefore, satisfied with the general thrust of this document and are now disappointed by the way the ideas laid down were not transformed into reality. On the Kosovo operation in general, we can say that military and non-military actors have become increasingly aware of the necessity of a smooth interplay of all partners involved. We have come quite some way in fostering co-operation between the organisations involved on the ground since Austrian Foreign Minister Schussel in his capacity as President of the EU Council had his informal meeting with Secretary General Solana a year ago to discuss the afore-said aspects. In conclusion, let me make a short remark on Austria's OSCE Chairmanship in the year 2000, which poses a major foreign policy challenge to my country. The situation in Kosovo will remain high on the OSCE agenda, as this region is a touchstone for the stabilisation of the whole of South Eastern Europe, a goat pursued in accordance with the Stability Pact, Promoting the rule of law, a functioning judicial and police system, human rights' protection and multi-ethnicity in local institutions will also be at the very centre of our attention. In its capacity as incoming Presidency Austria will be most happy to provide information to NATO and Partners at all levels.