Cologne European Council Declaration on
Strengthening The Common European Policy on Security And Defence
3-4 June 1999
1. We, the members of the European Council, are resolved
that the European Union shall play its full role on the international
stage. To that end, we intend to give the European Union the necessary
means and capabilities to assume its responsibilities regarding
a common European policy on security and defence. The work undertaken
on the initiative of the German Presidency and the entry into
force of the Treaty of Amsterdam permit us today to take a decisive
step forward.
In pursuit of our Common Foreign and Security Policy
objectives and the progressive framing of a common defence policy,
we are convinced that the Council should have the ability to take
decisions on the full range of conflict prevention and crisis
management tasks defined in the Treaty on European Union, the
"Petersberg tasks". To this end, the Union must have
the capacity for autonomous action, backed up by credible military
forces, the means to decide to use them, and a readiness to do
so, in order to respond to international crises without prejudice
to actions by NATO. The EU will thereby increase its ability to
contribute to international peace and security in accordance with
the principles of the UN Charter.
2. We are convinced that to fully assume its tasks
in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management the
European Union must have at its disposal the appropriate capabilities
and instruments. We therefore commit ourselves to further develop
more effective European military capabilities from the basis of
existing national, bi-national and multinational capabilities
and to strengthen our own capabilities for that purpose. This
requires the maintenance of a sustained defence effort, the implementation
of the necessary adaptations and notably the reinforcement of
our capabilities in the field of intelligence, strategic transport,
command and control. This also requires efforts to adapt, exercise
and bring together national and multinational European forces.
We also recognise the need to undertake sustained
efforts to strengthen the industrial and technological defence
base, which we want to be competitive and dynamic. We are determined
to foster the restructuring of the European defence industries
amongst those States involved. With industry we will therefore
work towards closer and more efficient defence industry collaboration.
We will seek further progress in the harmonisation of military
requirements and the planning and procurement of arms, as Member
States consider appropriate.
3. We welcome the results of the NATO Washington
summit as regards NATO support for the process launched by the
EU and its confirmation that a more effective role for the European
Union in conflict prevention and crisis management will contribute
to the vitality of a renewed Alliance. In implementing this process
launched by the EU, we shall ensure the development of effective
mutual consultation, cooperation and transparency between the
European Union and NATO.
We want to develop an effective EU-led crisis management
in which NATO members, as well as neutral and non-allied members,
of the EU can participate fully and on an equal footing in the
EU operations.
We will put in place arrangements that allow non-EU
European allies and partners to take part to the fullest possible
extent in this endeavour.
4. We therefore approve and adopt the report prepared
by the German Presidency, which reflects the consensus among the
Member States.
5. We are now determined to launch a new step in
the construction of the European Union. To this end we task the
General Affairs Council to prepare the conditions and the measures
necessary to achieve these objectives, including the definition
of the modalities for the inclusion of those functions of the
WEU which will be necessary for the EU to fulfil its new responsibilities
in the area of the Petersberg tasks. In this regard, our aim is
to take the necessary decisions by the end of the year 2000. In
that event, the WEU as an organisation would have completed its
purpose. The different status of Member States with regard to
collective defence guarantees will not be affected. The Alliance
remains the foundation of the collective defence of its Member
States.
We therefore invite the Finnish Presidency to take
the work forward within the General Affairs Council on the basis
of this declaration and the report of the Presidency to the European
Council meeting in Cologne. We look forward to a progress report
by the Finnish Presidency to the Helsinki European Council meeting.
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