BRUSSELS, Dec 13: NATO said on Friday it had approved an agreement on a military partnership with the European Union that will pave the way for the EU’s first-ever peacekeeping operations.
“The North Atlantic Council agreed to adopt a series of decisions with a view to maintaining a close and transparent relationship with the EU,” the decision-making body of the 19-member transatlantic alliance said in a statement from Brussels.
“Today NATO and the European Union have taken a major step forward in putting into effect the strategic partnerhip between the two organisations,” it said.
“EU access to NATO planning capabilities able to contribute to military planning for EU-led operations is now assured, effective immediately.”
PROTESTERS: Around 1,000 anarchists and anti-globalization actvists threatened to disrupt a milestone EU enlargement gathering in Copenhagen Friday, but were blocked outside the summit venue by riot police.
“We don’t want a Europe of war, of inequality, of exploitation,” protesters shouted, raising their hands in the air as they moved towards a wall of police vans parked 12 abreast, blocking their path to the summit.
The demonstrators, many of them wearing foam padding around their bodies, crash helmets and improvised shin pads, insisted they wanted to avoid confrontation with police.—AFP
