Norway’s perspective on NATO-EU Cooperation
10/01/2008 ::
1. Over the last few years, important steps have been taken to increase European crisis management capabilities within the EU itself and within the framework of EU-NATO co-operation. Norway is firmly committed to this endeavour. A coherent and capable Europe is a significant force for peace and stability. Making EU-NATO relations work is a high priority for Norway. Close and good co-operation between NATO and the EU is important both for European security and for the Allies to be able to support peace and stability beyond the European continent.
The arrangements laid down in the Berlin+ and the Nice-documents constitute an essential framework for co-operation between the EU and NATO and offer an opportunity for contributions to the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) by Allied European Non-EU countries. Building on these arrangements, Norway contributes to the ESDP in a number of ways. Norway provides force contributions to the EU force catalogue and to EU-led military and civilian operations (Operation Althea, the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and the Monitoring Mission in Aceh) and EU Battlegroups.
Norway’s participation in the EU Battle Groups Concept is a key element in our contribution to the ESDP. The Nordic Battle Group, led by Sweden, will be ready for the stand-by period during the first half of 2008 and the first half of 2011. The Norwegian contribution consists of 150 personnel. Norway also takes an active part in EU capability development, technology and armaments related co-operation, and aim to provide added value to the European Defence Agency (EDA).
2. There is a clear need for a fruitful and open dialog between the two organisations, and efforts should be made to establish a relationship based on complementary. This co-operation should not be limited to purely operational issues, but also include planning of EU-led operations as well as co-ordination of force- and defence planning in the two organisations. Close military co-operation is important in order for non-EU Allies, including Norway, to adapt our own contributions to the EU’s requirements. NATO-EU arrangements should reflect the political ambition of strengthening a mutually reinforcing partnership between NATO and the EU.
Against this backdrop it is disappointing that the cooperation between the two organizations hardly has moved forward since 2004. Indeed, the transfer from NATO’s stabilization force SFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina to the EU-led EUFOR went smoothly. However, there has been little or no progress in developing broader political and more practical cooperation with regards to common security challenges. Since the end of 2004 the dialogue has been limited to tactical issues related to the EU-operation ”Althea” in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to a very limited extent the development of military capabilities.
There are several reasons as to why the NATO-EU cooperation has failed to develop to the extent that we had hoped for. While Norway and several other Allies, including the majority of allied EU-member states, wish for broader and more committed cooperation between the two organizations, some EU member states prefer to limit cooperation in order to preserve the EU’s character and decision making autonomy and to fend off US influence on European policy. The tensions in transatlantic relations have not made it easier to convince these European Allies of the benefits of closer cooperation. Moreover, the relation between Turkey and the EU has also had strong influence on the relationship between NATO and the EU. The problems associated with Turkey’s quest for a clearer EU membership perspective as well as a satisfactory solution to the Cyprus-issue has had a damaging impact on the tone, substance and dialogue between the two organizations.
In order to give more substance to the partnership, NATO and the EU should engage in a broad political dialogue, focusing on our common security challenges and the complexities of peace keeping and peace building. Military forces are absolutely necessary to establish a minimum level of security. But military forces alone will never be successful in establishing lasting conditions for peace, stability and development. Based on experiences from Afghanistan, the Balkans and elsewhere, we need a comprehensive approach. We must enhance the coordination of civilian and military efforts. The current international security situation requires close international cooperation, and NATO and the EU has every interest in building a stronger mutually beneficial partnership.
Our military cooperation should not be limited to purely operational issues, but also include planning of EU-led operations as well as coordination of the force- and defence planning in the two organizations. Close military cooperation is important in order for non-EU Allies, including Norway, to adapt our own contributions to the EU’s requirements. Thus in our view NATO-EU arrangements should be enhanced in order to reflect the political ambition of strengthening a mutually reinforcing partnership between NATO and the EU.