Macedonia: EU to take over Operation Fox?
01 January 2002
The meeting of EU foreign ministers in Spain has decided in principle to take over the Nato-run Operation "Fox" in Macedonia that protects international monitors. As when the EU took over the command of the international police task force in Bosnia from the UN, the decision was proposed by EU high representative for foreign and security policy Javier Solana. Before a final decision on Macedonia many operational problems must be solved. The change in command will therefore take place not earlier than the autumn of 2002. A condition is that the government in Skopje agrees to a further extension of "Fox" after the summer and the transfer of the responsibility from NATO to the EU. Solana and the EU see Operation "Fox" as a practical way to begin an independent EU military crisis management structure. The operation is seen as comparatively small, not too complicated and restricted in time. The Nato intervention force of about 1000 strong is already composed of European units and was from the start in September 2001 commanded by a German brigadier?general. Neue Zuercher Zeitung 9.2.02