Est. 1min 18-04-2002 (updated: 07-11-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram The Greek government has announced that Greece will continue blocking any proposals allowing non-member Turkey to have a say in EU defence policy. The Greek government said that this was not an issue of “Greek-Turkish difference”, but “a difference between the EU and third countries”. Greece objects to an agreement reached by Britain, the United States and Turkey that would allow the EU to use NATO military assets. In exchange, Turkey, a NATO but not an EU member, would have the right to block some EU decisions on defence policy. The Greek Prime Minister, Costas Simitis, has said Greece will veto any proposal giving Turkey a say in the EU defence policy. Read more with Euractiv Informal ECOFIN meeting to discuss economic policy in the EurozoneAn informal meeting of the EU Economy and Finance Ministers will take place on 12-14 April to discuss the economic situation in the eurozone and to prepare the G7. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters BackgroundEU leaders declared the common defence policy operational at the Laeken European Council in December 2001 despite the absence of an agreement with NATO to use its military equipment and planning capabilities. Greece blocked the agreement between Britain and Turkey on the European rapid reaction force in December, warning against giving Turkey a say on EU defence issues. The 15 EU Member States formally decided to create a rapid reaction force (RRF) of 60,000 men at the Nice European Council in December 2000. The force should be operational from 2003, and should concentrate on humanitarian relief, peace-keeping and crisis-management tasks independently of NATO. TimelineThe issue will be discussed during the visit by NATO Secretary-General, Lord Robertson, and the EU High Representative for Security and Foreign Policy, Javier Solana, to Greece on 18 April. The EU and NATO would like to reach an agreement before September, when the EU is expected to take over the command of a NATO peacekeeping operation in Macedonia.
