This site is not updated. The United States welcomes the progress made by the European Union at the Nice Summit today in developing the European Security and Defense Policy. The decisions taken today should contribute to strengthening Europe's ability to act effectively in times of crisis. We support a European Security and Defense Policy based on improved European capabilities, effective NATO-EU links, a common, collaborative planning process and reliable mechanisms for consultations with those Allies who are not members of the European Union. A strategic partnership between NATO and the European Union will strengthen the transatlantic link.
Work remains, especially on the key question of capabilities.
The Alliance's capabilities will be significantly strengthened if, as we expect, European Union members allocate the necessary efforts and resources to achieve their Headline Goal capability by 2003. Our task now is to put in place effective and reliable arrangements for consultations and cooperation between the European Union and NATO in the field of security policy, crisis management and planning. NATO Foreign Ministers should make significant progress in this regard next week.