The UK believes that NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and Partnership for Peace (PfP) have proved themselves to be successful institutions for promoting defence and security reform, confidence building and co-operation between Allies and the 22 non-NATO Partner countries of Europe and the former Soviet Union. Both have contributed to overcoming Europe’s historic divisions, including by providing the framework for twelve countries to join the Alliance since the end of the Cold War.

 

At the Bucharest Summit NATO Heads of State and Government noted the progress made  to develop and broaden NATO’s network of partnerships – initiatives which the UK strongly supports.

 

The UK’s bilateral defence co-operation programmes with countries in the region, run by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), contribute directly to the objectives of NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Partnership. UK assistance facilitates defence reform and enhances military interoperability between NATO and Partner country defence forces, thus enabling many Partner countries to contribute more effectively to NATO-led Peace Support Operations (PSOs).

 

UK defence co-operation includes UK Civilian Defence Advisers in the Ministries of Defence of several Partner countries as well as bilateral assistance by the MOD and British Military Training Teams in-country. UK advisers often assist directly in Partner countries’ participation in NATO programmes such as the Membership Action Plan (MAP), the Planning And Review Process (PARP) and Individual Partnership Action Plans (IPAPs).

 

The UK has always supported a strong Euro-Atlantic perspective for the countries in the Western Balkans as the key to entrenching long-lasting stability in the region. The decision at the Bucharest Summit to invite Albania and Croatia to join NATO and undertake intensified dialogue with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro marks further progress on the region’s Euro-Atlantic path.  As Allies made clear at the Bucharest Summit, we continue to expect Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina to meet their international obligations and cooperate fully with the ICTY.  The UK also supports NATO’s emphasis on partnerships with the Caucasus and Central Asia regions.

 

The UK fully supports the NATO/PfP Trust Fund Policy which aims to promote defence reform in partner countries by providing a framework through which NATO members and partners work together to identify, implement and fund specific projects. These projects were initially established to assist Partner nations in the safe destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel landmines (APLs) under the Ottawa Convention, but this has since been expanded to include several other areas of defence reform. Subsequent projects have included the destruction of surplus munitions, unexploded ordnance, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and rocket fuel oxidisers and the resettlement and retraining of redundant personnel. The UK has contributed to a number of these in recent years. Further information can be found on our Trust Fund Page.

 

NATO's partnerships have been an effective instrument for facilitating involvement in NATO-led Peace Support Operations. One way is through the full development of the Operational Capabilities Concept (OCC). The UK is a strong supporter of this initiative. In consultation with Partners, the UK is actively taking work forward to ensure that NATO's transformed partnerships continue to improve operational co-operation, enhance force capabilities amongst Partner nations, and enhance political dialogue.