First joint EU/Nato crisis management exercise to be launched

Press release 281/2003
17 November, 2003

The European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will conduct their first ever joint crisis management exercise, called CME/CMX 03, on 19 to 25 November, based on a range of standing arrangements for consultation and cooperation between the EU and Nato in times of crisis, focusing on the interaction between the two organisations. The exercise will also actively test civilian instruments of the EU. No troops will be deployed.

The exercise will concentrate on how the EU plans at the strategic politico-military level for an envisaged EU-led, UN-mandated operation with recourse to Nato assets and capabilities, but where Nato as a whole is not engaged. The exercise will lead to the appointment of an Operational Commander and to the EU tasking for military and civilian operational planning.

The operation will be conducted in Brussels and in national capitals. On the EU side, it will involve all member states, the relevant council instances, the Secretary General/High Representative, the Commission and the EU Satellite Centre. On the Nato side, all allies will be involved, as well as all relevant bodies at Nato headquarters, including Nato’s Strategic Commanders’ Headquarters (SHAPE).

In Finland, the coordination of the exercise lies with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, in addition to which the participants include the Ministry of Defence, the Defence Staff, the Ministry of the Interior, particularly the police, the Ministry of Justice, the Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels and the Mission of Finland to Nato in Brussels.

Further information: Timo Ranta, First Secretary, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 160 55660, and Thomas Sund, Press Officer, Ministry of Defence, tel. +359 9 160 88273.