Where an operation does not call on NATO assets, an operational staff formed around a core provided by a national strategic staff will carry out the operational planning. This staff would be multinational and reinforced by officers from the other nations participating in the operation. This is particularly true for operational planning. Hence the importance for all of us of the implementation of the decision taken at the Washington summit that provides for assured access to NATO planning capabilities. The other aspect of action is military capabilities, which are the token of our credibility.
Capabilities are in fact at the heart of our initiative.
They are our mainframe through the commitment of defence ministers to reach the levels we have set ourselves on the basis of political goals. The attention we pay to the subject of capabilities bears witness to the seriousness of our initiative. On 20 November, Europeans demonstrated their determination at the capabilities commitment conference that enabled political objectives to be translated into very concrete military commitments. Without creating a wasteful and onerous structure, over a few months we were able to develop a catalogue of forces which validity was recognised by the NATO experts who participated in the work. Our approach was realistic, and did not ignore any shortfalls that emerged.