EU force 'will strengthen NATO'

Cook: Europe needs to take responsibility for common security

LONDON, England -- The planned European rapid reaction force will strengthen NATO, not undermine it, UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook says.

The British government has been criticised by its opposition and some media for preparing to cede control to Europe over key areas, including defence and tax.

Britain's commitment of 12,500 troops to the 60,000-strong European force has been particularly controversial after former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher described the plan as "monumental folly."

Cook reiterated his view that the new force, to be deployed by 2003 for crisis management and humanitarian purposes, would not undermine NATO as feared.

"It will only be used by Europe if NATO...decides not to be involved," he said in an interview on Sunday.

"The first call will be NATO, and if NATO does decide to lead the operation, then these forces will be available to NATO. That is why it strengthens NATO, not undermines it."

In a show of unity, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wrote a joint article in Sunday's Observer with Cook to underline Washington's backing for the European capability.

While Britain's Strategic Defence Review had committed the country to a real defence spending increase for the first time in 15 years, Europe as a whole still needed to do more to strengthen its contributions to NATO missions, they wrote.

"It also should assume greater responsibility for common security and defence and act quickly and effectively in fast-breaking crises," the article said.

Cook sought to appease fears that Britain would give up key powers to Europe at a critical EU summit in Nice, France next month.

Britain is likely to come under pressure to surrender its right to veto in areas like tax, defence, border controls, EU treaty changes and social security policy.

Many member states argue that introducing majority voting on such issues would speed up the union's development, but Cook said the government had outlined six areas where it would refuse to budge, including tax and social security.

"Particularly to take the case of tax and social security we believe that these are very important parts of the national characteristic.

"It is important that they should be resolved by national parliaments and their governments."

Reuters contributed to this report.

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NATO
British Ministry of Defence

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