Extract from the Declaration of the Helsinki
European Council
10-11 December 1999
25. The European Council adopts the two Presidency
progress reports (see Annex IV) on developing the Union's military
and non-military crisis management capability as part of a strengthened
common European policy on security and defence.
26. The Union will contribute to international peace
and security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations
Charter. The Union recognises the primary responsibility of the
United Nations Security Council for the maintenance of international
peace and security.
27. The European Council underlines its determination
to develop an autonomous capacity to take decisions and, where
NATO as a whole is not engaged, to launch and conduct EU-led military
operations in response to international crises. This process will
avoid unnecessary duplication and does not imply the creation
of a European army.
28. Building on the guidelines established at the
Cologne European Council and on the basis of the Presidency's
reports, the European Council has agreed in particular the following:
- cooperating voluntarily
in EU-led operations, Member States must be able, by 2003, to
deploy within 60 days and sustain for at least 1 year military
forces of up to 50,000-60,000 persons capable of the full range
of Petersberg tasks;
- new political and military bodies and structures
will be established within the Council to enable the Union to
ensure the necessary political guidance and strategic direction
to such operations, while respecting the single institutional
framework;
- modalities will be developed for full consultation,
cooperation and transparency between the EU and NATO, taking into
account the needs of all EU Member States;
- appropriate arrangements will be defined that would
allow, while respecting the Union's decision-making autonomy,
non-EU European NATO members and other interested States to contribute
to EU military crisis management;
- a non-military crisis management mechanism will
be established to coordinate and make more effective the various
civilian means and resources, in parallel with the military ones,
at the disposal of the Union and the Member States.
29. The European Council asks the incoming Presidency,
together with the Secretary-General/High Representative, to carry
work forward in the General Affairs Council on all aspects of
the reports as a matter of priority, including conflict prevention
and a committee for civilian crisis management. The incoming Presidency
is invited to draw up a first progress report to the Lisbon European
Council and an overall report to be presented to the Feira European
Council containing appropriate recommendations and proposals,
as well as an indication of whether or not Treaty amendment is
judged necessary. The General Affairs Council is invited to begin
implementing these decisions by establishing as of March 2000
the agreed interim bodies and arrangements within the Council,
in accordance with the current Treaty provisions.
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