Wallstrom warns of Iraq war effects on Europe

by observer Mon Mar 31, 2003 17:31

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT -Completely split on Iraq
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Parliament failed on Thursday to reach any kind of agreement on the Iraq crisis.

A joint resolution by the Socialists, Liberals and Greens/EFA was rejected with 255 votes against, 218 in favour, and 46 abstentions.

Another resolution from the EPP-ED group’s was also rejected with 286 against, 207 in favour and 28 abstentions.

Charles Tannock MEP, UK Conservative Spokesman on Foreign Affairs in the European Parliament, said: "The people of Europe have spoken through the European Parliament. It is clear that Europe is divided across party and nationality. The European Parliament has once again blown the concept of a Common Foreign and Security Policy out of the water."

by observer Mon Mar 31, 2003 17:33

The EU force will be under the overall command of the most senior European at NATO, ADMIRAL RAINER FEIST (Photo: SHAPE)
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - The European Union begins its first military mission on Monday in Macedonia.

Code-named Concordia, the EU mission will officially take over from NATO to try and ensure continued stability in the small former Yugoslav Republic.

Its task is to oversee the agreement reached in 2001 between the Macedonian government and Albanian rebels.

France is sending most of the 350 soldiers and will therefore assume most of the responsibility on the ground - but, in total, 27 countries will take part in the mission.

The soldiers will wear national uniforms with insignia bearing the letters ‘EUfor’ (EU force for short) and will have a badge with the European colours (blue with gold stars) on their right shoulders.

Politically this mission is extremely important coming at a time when the EU's fledgling common foreign and security policy has been left in tatters by deep divisions over Iraq.

The EU force will be under the overall command of the most senior European at NATO, Admiral Rainer Feist, as the EU will use NATO planning and equipment.

Admiral Feist stresses the importance of continuity for the mission and expects the soldiers to "contribute by their visible presence" to the fragile peace in Macedonia.

Symbolic value
The six-month mission is being seen as a big test for the EU. If successful, it could lead to other missions in Bosnia, the Caucuses or even Africa.

Admiral Feist denied however that the EU was taking over in a country where it was no longer needed just for the symbolic value of having a first mission.

"The situation is such that it has improved, but... we continue to need an international military presence in the country", he said.

Problems
If there were to be an emergency, the EU could draw on NATO reserves and the whole operation could revert back to the Alliance's control, if needed.

But neither NATO, the EU force nor officials in Macedonia are expecting this to happen.

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by observer Mon Mar 31, 2003 17:33

SWEDEN - and Denmark are two small EU countries but not taking part in this week´s summit of the seven dwarfs. (Photo: Lisbeth Kirk)
Sweden and Denmark have not been included in a group of seven smaller EU member states, dubbed the 'Seven Dwarfs’ - which was formed recently as a counter measure to allowing larger European Union member from grabbing too much power in the drafting of the European constitution, reports the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende.

When heads of European governments and foreign ministers from the seven, this week meet in Luxembourg to reach a common position over the future of Europe, the group is expected to make a bold statement against the creation of a European President.

The stance is expected to be seen as a warning to both larger European Union member states and the president of the European Convention, Giscard d’Estang, who according to them has been a bit too friendly towards the view of larger member states, reports the Berlingske Tidende.

Furthermore, the seven – Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, Austria, Finland and Ireland – are expected to demand more European inter-governmental work, such as the Common defence and security policy and the continued involvement from both the European Commission and the European Parliament in these areas.

Denmark and Sweden, two of Europe´s smaller member states, had been frozen out as a result of their stance on the future of Europe, a diplomat form Benelux suggested - adding that their was no point in inviting either of them to join.

The move by the ‘Seven Dwarves’ is especially significant in light of France and Germany’s initiative earlier this month, when they published a common proposal for the introduction of a European President to replace the current system of the rotating European presidency.

Press Articles Berlingske Tidende

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