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EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Around 4.7 million euro will be pooled from the EU states budgets this year to finance the first EU military operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). The EU intends to start the deployment of this mission in March.
The EU will be able to take over the mission presently led by Nato and known by the name of 'Allied Harmony' for the next six months after the invitation of the FYROM authorities on 17 January 2003. The EU will be leading the mission but using Nato assets after the agreement reached between the EU and Nato in December.
No financing via EU budget
Being a military operation, this mission could not be financed by the community budget and therefore EU ministers meeting on Monday had to agree on an estimate for the common costs incurred by all the participant countries such as barracks for lodging. However, expenditure related to transportation of the forces, will not be eligible for payment as a common cost, and will be incurred by the respective EU states.
The mission in FYROM will be the second one for the EU under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) framework. The first one, the EU Police Mission in Bosnia, was launched on 1 January this year.
"Although the world is going through difficult moments, we cannot forget the responsibility to countries closer to us," the EU Security Policy Chief Javier Solana said.
Non-EU European NATO members, EU acceding states and potential partners will be able to participate if they wish to do so.
http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=9166
The EU will be able to take over the mission presently led by Nato and known by the name of 'Allied Harmony' for the next six months after the invitation of the FYROM authorities on 17 January 2003. The EU will be leading the mission but using Nato assets after the agreement reached between the EU and Nato in December.
No financing via EU budget
Being a military operation, this mission could not be financed by the community budget and therefore EU ministers meeting on Monday had to agree on an estimate for the common costs incurred by all the participant countries such as barracks for lodging. However, expenditure related to transportation of the forces, will not be eligible for payment as a common cost, and will be incurred by the respective EU states.
The mission in FYROM will be the second one for the EU under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) framework. The first one, the EU Police Mission in Bosnia, was launched on 1 January this year.
"Although the world is going through difficult moments, we cannot forget the responsibility to countries closer to us," the EU Security Policy Chief Javier Solana said.
Non-EU European NATO members, EU acceding states and potential partners will be able to participate if they wish to do so.
http://www.euobserver.com/index.phtml?sid=9&aid=9166