The Western European Union: A Portuguese view

NATO's Nations and Partners for Peace; Uithoorn; 2000; Ana Martinho;

Supplement: Portugal Presents Itself

Start Page: 36
Full Text:
Copyright Monch Media, Inc. 2000
[Headnote]
In 1999, Bremen, Luxembourg, Cologne and Helsinki were landmarks where important decisions were taken for the
development of a Common European Policy on Security and Defence.
During the first semester of 2000, Portugal held both the EU and the WEU Presidencies. Recognising that the roles of
the two organisations in European Security and Defence have assumed a new shape, the WEU presidency organised,
last January, a reflection seeking Member States' views on the future interrelationship between the two organisations.

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Press Conference during the NATO/WEU Exercise

CMX/CRISEX 2000. From left: Lord Robertson, NATO-
Secretary general; Javier Solana, WEU-Secretary--
General; Ambassador Fernando Andresen Guimaraes,
Permanent Representative of Portugal to NATO and WEU.
(Photo: NATO)

The guiding principle of the Programme for the portuguese Presidency of the WEU was to
ensure that the WEU's operational capabilities for Petersberg tasks would remain intact, at
least until the EU was able to assure such capabilities.

In this context, until the CMX-CRISEX 2000 Exercise and until the new CFSP structures
started functioning, the WEU Presidency was carried out very much along established
principles and lines of action.

Last March, after these two events had taken place, the Presidency began to consider the best
way to prepare the WEU for a gradual change, in the light of the political decisions taken in
both organisations.

Such decisions, as far as we see it, are that the development of the EU security and defence
structures will lead to the downsizing of WEU's organisational structure. Member States
intend, however, to keep in force the Modified Brussels Treaty, which establishes Europe's
only collective defence arrangement. As an organization the WEU will certainly be smaller,
comprising the Council, the Assembly, a small supporting staff and some of the WEU
specialised groups.

The WEU's structures, like the Satellite Centre and the WEU Security Studies Institute, and
the political-military operational concepts and procedures, may in our view constitute a useful
contribution for the development of the EU Common European Policy on Security and
Defence. The "Repertory of WEU Operational Concepts and Procedures" is also ready to be
forwarded to the EU.

The WEU Operational Development, which has received a major impulse in 1995, during
Portugal's previous Presidency, offers the sole European operational framework for Petersberg
missions. In this respect, lessons learned from the CMX-CRISEX 2000 exercise, which took
place in February, are of great relevance. This exercise was intended to test all the procedures
which will allow the WEU to make use of NATO's means and capabilities for European-- led
operations, and it has highlighted that a triangular relationship between the WEU, the EU and
NATO is a coherent basis for an efficient Euro-Atlantic security system.

On the other hand, the Military Staff, the Satellite Centre and the Institute for Security Studies
can, at any time, work for both Organisations. This is an added value that through the WEU
Secretary-General and EU High Representative, implements Luxembourg and Helsinki
decisions.

The Western European Union has also been in the last years a forum for dialogue and
cooperation among 28 European countries that have a common understanding of European
security and stability. Furthermore, the WEU has developed a positive dialogue with Russia,
the Ukraine and the Mediterranean countries. With the objective of pursuing and, whenever
possible, developing these dialogues, the Portuguese Presidency has organised a Seminar on
crisis management mechanisms and concepts, with special emphasis on the Mediterranean
area.

During the Portuguese Presidency of both the EU and the WEU, the mandates of the WEU's
Missions were extended. MADE in Albania and WEUDAM in Croatia are missions run by the
WEU at the request of the EU and both are recognised as a very significant contribution by
the WEU to the stability and security of the region. The EU has recently approved their
prorogation and financial support.

As already stated, the Assembly of the WEU will remain in function, playing its major role in
democratic control of the defence and security fields.

In short, Portugal has assumed the Presidency of the WEU at a time of great change in the
European defence policy, and of some uncertainties about this organisation's future role.

Our major concern has been to foster and capitalise on the WEU's potential and accquis for
crisis management, fully respecting its procedural mechanisms and the professionals working
in the organisation. Holding both Presidencies, and being also a NATO member, Portugal had
the responsibility to ensure coherently that the WEU begins to prepare itself for a different
role in Europe's security architecture.
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WEU's Satellite Centre; one of its main functions is the

surveillance mission of Kosovo.
Here you see a Satellite Picture of Lisbon.
[Author note]
ANA MARTINHO, DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR MULTILATERAL AFFAIRS, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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