Declaration of Petersberg (WEU). Bonn – June 19, 1992

(B2) Petersberg Declaration: Council of Western European Union (WEU), Bonn, 19 June 1992

The Foreign and Defense Ministers of the WEU Member States met in Bonn on 19 June 1992 and published the Petersberg Declaration which comprises the following three parts:

> I. On WEU and European security.
> II. On strengthening the operational role of WEU.
> III. On relations between WEU and the other European member states of the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance.

I. ON WEU AND EUROPEAN SECURITY

Developments in the field of security in Europe, disarmament and arms limitation.

1. The Ministers referred to the significant changes that have taken place in Europe in the field of security since their last ordinary meeting in November 1991. They underlined the importance of strengthening the role and institutions of the CSCE for peace and security in Europe. They look forward to the decisions to be taken in Helsinki regarding the opening of new negotiations on arms limitation and disarmament measures as well as the intensification of regular consultations and cooperation on security issues. In view of the establishment of a new CSCE forum for security co-operation, they considered of paramount importance the decisions aimed at strengthening the CSCE's means for conflict prevention, crisis management and peaceful settlement of disputes. They support the proposal under discussion at the Helsinki follow-up meeting for the CSCE to adopt the status of a regional agreement under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter. Ministers considered that the CSCE should have the power to initiate and conduct peacekeeping operations under its own responsibility.

2. As WEU develops its operational capabilities in accordance with the Maastricht Declaration, we declare our readiness to support, on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with our own procedures, the effective implementation of conflict prevention and management measures crises, and in particular the peacekeeping activities of the CSCE or the United Nations Security Council. This will be without prejudice to the contributions that other CSCE participating countries and other organizations may make to these activities.

3. Ministers welcomed the decisions taken by the CSCE Council in Berlin and Prague concerning relations between the CSCE and other mutually reinforcing European and transatlantic organisations, including WEU. They declared that the WEU is, in liaison with the European Union, ready to participate fully in the construction of a European security architecture. They also reaffirmed their conviction that the Atlantic Alliance constitutes one of the essential bases of European security. They welcomed NATO's ongoing reform process aimed at establishing a strong new transatlantic partnership.

4. The Ministers welcomed the agreement reached at the Extraordinary CFE Conference held in Oslo on 5 June 1992, allowing the entry into force of the CFE Treaty, which has been and remains an important objective of their policy in on arms limitation. Its effective and full implementation will increase stability and pave the way in Europe for a new security order based on cooperation. The ministers invite the new States parties to this treaty to ensure its ratification by the Helsinki summit of the CSCE. They attach great importance to the conclusion in good time for this summit of an agreement on the limitation of the numbers of land and air forces (FCE, I bis) and to the implementation of the "Open Skies" Treaty. Ministers reaffirmed their desire to see the "Open Skies" agreement enter into force as soon as possible and invited other CSCE States to accede to the Treaty in accordance with its provisions.

5. Ministers welcomed the recent steps taken by the States concerned to enable the entry into force of the START Treaty and the important agreement on further strategic arms reductions reached between the United States and Russia on June 17, 1992 in Washington.

6. Ministers recalled that the presence of foreign forces on the territory of a sovereign State requires the explicit consent of that State. They underlined the importance of rapidly establishing timetables for the withdrawal of foreign troops from the Baltic States, within the framework of the ongoing negotiations.

7. Ministers expressed their belief that a Chemical Weapons Convention can be concluded within the next few months. They are convinced that this convention can play an important role and pave the way at the world level for a multilateral limitation of armaments, and call on all the Member States of the Conference on Disarmament to lend their support to the consensus which is emerging. They reiterate their determination to be among the first signatories of this Convention and ask all the other countries to follow them in this way.

8. WEU Member States reaffirm their determination to contribute further to the establishment of a new order of peace in Europe which, in accordance with the Charter of Paris, will be based on cooperation. In this regard, the ministers underlined the valuable contribution of COCONA. It is in the same spirit that WEU has invited the Foreign and Defense Ministers of eight Central European States to an extraordinary ministerial meeting to be held today. WEU and the invited countries intend to strengthen consultation and cooperation within the framework of
the new European security structure.

Implementation of the Maastricht Declaration

9. Ministers underlined the fundamental importance of the Treaty on European Union and looked forward to the further elaboration of the common foreign and security policy at the Lisbon European Council. They examined the progress made in developing the role of WEU as the defense component of the European Union and as a means of strengthening the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance, in accordance with the Declaration adopted by the Member States of the WEU in December 1991 during the Maastricht European Council.

10. Ministers reaffirmed the importance for WEU of establishing close working relations with the European Union and the Atlantic Alliance, in accordance with the WEU Maastricht Declaration. They adopted a report on the practical measures necessary for their development. They invited the Permanent Council to propose to the Council of Twelve and the North Atlantic Council concrete measures aimed at facilitating the establishment of close cooperation between the respective secretariats.

1l. Ministers heard a report from the Secretary-General on the progress made in moving the WEU Council and Secretariat General from London to Brussels. They instructed the Permanent Council and the Secretary General to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer to take place no later than January 1993.

12. Ministers heard a report from the German Chief of Defense Staff on the meetings of the Chiefs of Defense Staff. The ministers decided that the Chiefs of Defense Staff would meet twice a year before the ordinary Councils of Ministers, and on an ad hoc basis whenever necessary. The ministers also agreed that following the transfer of the Council and the Secretariat to Brussels, the national delegations could be reinforced by military delegates who will have to develop and submit opinions to the Council, communicate to the planning cell the point viewpoint of the Chiefs of Defense Staff and follow the military aspect of its work.

13. WEU Ministers welcomed the decision taken by the Defense Ministers of the EGIP, meeting in Oslo on 6 March 1992, to analyze the future role of the EGIP in the new European security architecture. This is a positive development which fully corresponds to the objective set by the WEU Member States in Maastricht to study further enhanced cooperation in the field of armaments, with a view to creating a European WEU armaments. The WEU ministers propose that experts from WEU and IEPG member countries study this issue in detail and carry out an initial examination of the role and functions of a possible European armaments agency, and that a report be submitted for exam.

14. WEU Ministers welcomed the decision taken on 25 May 1992 in Brussels by the Eurogroup Defense Ministers to study the possibility, among other options and if the required conditions are met, of transferring WEU, in whole or in part, the current functions of the Eurogroup for which there is still a need.

15. Ministers noted with satisfaction the considerable progress that has been made in setting up the WEU Experimental Satellite Center in Torrejon (Spain), a concrete testimony to the strengthening of the operational role of WEU, and rejoiced at the prospect of the official inauguration which will take place later this year. They also noted that the contract for the feasibility study of the main system had been awarded to a consortium of companies from WEU Member States led by a German company.

Working group activities

16. With regard to verification, Ministers noted with satisfaction that operating rules have been established within WEU for multinational CFE teams, and that these have subsequently been adopted by the Alliance. This is the first example, since the Maastricht Declaration, of the introduction of concerted joint positions within WEU into the Alliance's consultation process.

17. Noting the progress made so far, Ministers agreed in principle to a feasibility study to determine the most cost-effective way to implement the Open Skies Treaty in the framework of cooperation between member states. They instructed the group of experts to determine the starting points of the study, to define the options deserving of further examination and to study the question of costs, in order to be able to decide, at their next ordinary meeting, that study should be continued. They underlined that WEU is ready to cooperate further with third parties, and in this respect welcomed the contacts that have been established with other European allies, as well as with the Russian Federation. They agreed that experts should explore the possibility of intensified cooperation with the Russian Federation which could include a joint feasibility study and/or a test flight.

18. Ministers reaffirmed the importance of the work of the Mediterranean subgroup on security in the Mediterranean. They gave WEU a mandate to gradually establish a dialogue with the Maghreb countries, taking into account the development of the political situation in these countries and in the region. WEU Institute for Security Studies

19. Ministers noted with satisfaction the activities of the WEU Institute for Security Studies in Paris. Its publications, seminars and colloquies have contributed significantly to a better understanding of the ongoing development of the European security identity and to the strengthening of relations between WEU and other European countries.

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II. ON THE STRENGTHENING OF WEU'S OPERATIONAL ROLE

1. In accordance with the decision to develop WEU as a defense component of the European Union and as a means of strengthening the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance contained in the Declaration of the Member States of WEU published in Maastricht on 10 December 1991, the Member States of WEU continued to examine and define the appropriate missions, structures and means, covering in particular a WEU planning cell and military units answerable to WEU, in order to to strengthen its operational role.

2. Member States declare their readiness to make available to WEU military units drawn from the full spectrum of their conventional forces for military missions which would be carried out under the authority of WEU.

3. Any decision to use military units coming under WEU will be taken by the WEU Council in accordance with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. The decision to participate in specific operations will remain a national matter and will be taken by the Member States in accordance with their specific Constitutions.

4. In addition to a contribution to common defense within the framework of the application of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and Article V of the modified Brussels Treaty, the military units of the Member States of WEU, acting under authority of WEU, could be used to:
- humanitarian missions or evacuation of nationals;
- peacekeeping missions;
- combat force missions for crisis management, including peace-making operations.

5. The planning and execution of these missions will be fully compatible with the military arrangements necessary to ensure the collective defense of all Allies.

6. Military units will come from the forces of WEU Member States, including forces with NATO missions in this case, after consultation with NATO - and will be organized on a multinational and joint basis.

7. All WEU Member States will soon designate the military units and staffs which they would be prepared to make available to WEU for its various possible missions. Where multinational formations drawn from the forces of WEU member countries already exist or are planned, these units could be made available for use under the aegis of WEU, with the agreement of all participating countries.

8. WEU Member States intend to develop and organize the training of appropriate capabilities which will enable the deployment by land, sea or air of WEU military units to accomplish these missions.

9. A planning cell will be set up on 1 October 1992, subject to practical considerations; it will report to the Board. It will be set up with the General Secretariat in an appropriate building in Brussels. The Board today appointed General Caltabiano (Italian Air Force) as Director. The cell will be loaded:
- to prepare contingency plans for the employment of forces under the auspices of WEU;
- to prepare recommendations for the necessary provisions in terms of command, conduct of communications operations, including the standing instructions for the staffs that could be chosen;
- draw up an up-to-date inventory of forces and groups of forces likely to be assigned to WEU for specific operations.

10. The Council of Ministers approved the terms of reference of the planning unit.

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III. ON RELATIONS BETWEEN WEU AND THE OTHER EUROPEAN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION OR THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE

A - Following the declaration made public on 10 December 1991 in Maastricht, together with the Treaty on European Union, WEU Ministers recalled the fundamental principles on which relations between the Member States and the Member States should be based WEU Associates:
- Settlement of their mutual differences by peaceful means, in accordance with the obligations arising from the modified Brussels Treaty, the North Atlantic Treaty and the Charter of the United Nations, the commitments entered into under the terms of the Helsinki Final Act and of the Charter of Paris, as well as other generally recognized principles and rules of international law;
- Abstention from the threat or use of force, in their mutual relations, in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Charter. They also underlined that the security guarantees and defense commitments contained in the treaties which bind the Member States within the Western European Union and which bind them within the Atlantic Alliance are mutually reinforcing and do not may be invoked by those who subscribe to Part III of the Petersberg Declaration in disputes arising between member states of either organization.

B - In their Maastricht Declaration of 10 December 1991, the Member States of WEU proposed that States which are members of the European Union should be invited to join WEU on terms to be agreed in accordance with Article XI of the modified Brussels Treaty, or to become observers if they so wish. At the same time, the other European member states of NATO are invited to become associate members of WEU in a way which enables them to participate fully in the activities of WEU. In accordance with Part III of the Petersberg Declaration, the Ministers decided that when issuing the invitation addressed to countries wishing to become full members, observers or associate members, the following points should be specified:

Members

The Member States of the European Union which have accepted the invitation to join WEU undertake:
- to respect, in accordance with the principles and values ​​to which all WEU Member States subscribe, the Brussels Treaty of 1948 as amended on 23 October 1954, its protocols and associated texts, and the agreements concluded by the Member States under the provisions of the said Treaty;
- to take note with approval of the agreements, decisions and regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of the said Treaty and of the declarations adopted from that of Rome of 27 October 1984:
- to develop WEU as a defense component of the European Union and as a means of strengthening the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance, in accordance with the commitment entered into on 10 December 1991 in the declaration on the role of WEU and on its relations with the European Union and with the Atlantic Alliance, attached to the Treaty on European Union and
- to accept in full the content of Part III of the Petersberg Declaration which will form part of the Accession Protocol.

Observers

European Union Member States that have accepted the invitation to become observers:
- may, although not parties to the modified Brussels Treaty, attend meetings of the WEU Council subject to the provisions of Article VIII of the modified Brussels Treaty; at the request of the majority of the Member States or of half of the Member States including the Presidency, attendance at Council meetings may be limited to full members;
- may be invited to meetings of the working groups;
- may be invited, on request, to speak;
- will have the same rights and responsibilities as full members for functions relating to bodies and institutions to which they already belong and which would be transferred to WEU.

Associate members

The other European member states of the Atlantic Alliance which have accepted the invitation to become associate members, although not parties to the modified Brussels Treaty, will be able to participate fully in the meetings of the WEU Council - subject to the provisions provided for in Article VIII of the modified Brussels Treaty - of its working groups and subsidiary bodies, taking into account the following provisions:
- at the request of the majority of the Member States or of half of the Member States including the Presidency, this participation may be limited to full members;
- they will have the possibility of being associated with the planning unit through a permanent liaison procedure;
- they will have the same rights and responsibilities as full members for functions relating to bodies and institutions to which they already belong and which would be transferred to WEU
- they will have the right to speak but will not be able to block a decision which is the subject of a consensus between the Member States;
- they will be able to associate themselves with the decisions taken by the Member States; they will be able to participate in their implementation unless otherwise decided by the majority of the Member States or by half of the Member States including the Presidency;
- they will take part, on the same basis as full members, in WEU military operations for which they commit forces;
- they will fully accept Section A of Part III of the Petersberg Declaration which will form part of the Association Document;
- they will be connected to the telecommunications system (WEUCOM) of the Member States for messages relating to the meetings and activities in which they participate;
- they will be invited to make a financial contribution to the budgets of the Organisation.

Space activities

For practical reasons, space activities will remain restricted to current members until the end of the satellite center's experimental period ending in 1995. During this phase, new members and associate members will be kept informed of the space activities of the WEU. Appropriate arrangements will be made to allow associate members to participate in subsequent space activities when decisions on the continuation of such activities are taken.

Mandate

C - The Ministers instructed the Permanent Council to make arrangements to begin discussions with the States concerned. Ministers confirmed their wish to conclude the necessary agreements before 31 December 1992.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Documents d'actualité internationale, no. 18, La Documentation française, 15 September 1992, p. 359-363.