14 TH PFP INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH SEMINAR EFORIE NORD, ROMANIA JUNE 2005 NATO AND THE WIDER BLACK SEA MR. GEORGE NICULESCU NATO INTERNATIONAL STAFF POLITICAL AFFAIRS AND SECURITY POLICY DIVISION PFP AND COOPERATION PROGRAMMES

BACKGROUND Nato’s involvement in the Wider Black Sea: cooperative security approachNato’s involvement in the Wider Black Sea: cooperative security approach Istanbul summit: cornerstone for Nato’s engagementIstanbul summit: cornerstone for Nato’s engagement –Bulgaria and Romania new members –Recognised importance of the region for Euro-Atlantic security –Ready to explore further means to strengthening security and stability, building upon existing forms of regional co- operation

KEY QUESTIONS Why Does the Wider Black Sea Matter for NATO?Why Does the Wider Black Sea Matter for NATO? How Does NATO Contribute to Regional Stability and Security?How Does NATO Contribute to Regional Stability and Security? Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation?Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation?

Why Does the Wider Black Sea Matter for NATO? Key Role in Inducing and Supporting Reforms in Georgia, and Ukraine, as well as in Moldova, Armenia, and Azerbaijan;Key Role in Inducing and Supporting Reforms in Georgia, and Ukraine, as well as in Moldova, Armenia, and Azerbaijan; “Frozen conflicts” and organised crime threaten Euro-Atlantic security;“Frozen conflicts” and organised crime threaten Euro-Atlantic security; Share with the EU the burden of taking the European project across the Black SeaShare with the EU the burden of taking the European project across the Black Sea Security of transport routes of the Caspian energy to EuropeSecurity of transport routes of the Caspian energy to Europe

How Does NATO Contribute to Regional Stability and Security? All regional Partners engaged in existing cooperation programmes with NATO, but…All regional Partners engaged in existing cooperation programmes with NATO, but… –No regional focus on the region –No formal relations with regional initiatives. Could NATO Do More?Could NATO Do More? –Use PAP-DIB label and mechanisms to promote defence and security reform –Network of mentoring projects to support IPAP Nations –Wider Black Sea Education for Defence Reforms - Contribution to NATO’s Evolving Education for Reform Initiative: Black Sea Scholarships and Support Wider Access to the EAPN

Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation? Why?Why? –Reinforce efforts to assist individual Partners to implement defence and wider reforms –Enhance the framework for providing assistance to multinational projects –Trans-national security risks better dealt with in regional formats –Overcome the paralysis of regional co-operation in the Caucasus –Potential co-operation with other international organisations – a bonus

Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation? How?How? –First Allied meeting: Maintain the issue on the agendaMaintain the issue on the agenda Need to complement and add value to existing effortsNeed to complement and add value to existing efforts Primacy to local and regional initiativesPrimacy to local and regional initiatives Involve Partners from the region in the discussion, when appropriateInvolve Partners from the region in the discussion, when appropriate A gradual process focusing, initially, on small, concrete proposals to be launched in the near futureA gradual process focusing, initially, on small, concrete proposals to be launched in the near future

Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation? How?How? –Informal working level expert group of the willing to draft a “food for thought” paper –Keep the NATO Committees updated with what is going on –Possibly invite high level representatives of BLACKSEAFOR and BSEC at EAPC meetings

Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation? Challenges AheadChallenges Ahead –Need for IDEAS of small, practical projects, supported by all Allies from the region, that add value in areas like: security dialoguesecurity dialogue building democratic institutionsbuilding democratic institutions military education, training and exercisesmilitary education, training and exercises border securityborder security WMD counter-proliferationWMD counter-proliferation counter-terrorismcounter-terrorism Civil Emergencies PlanningCivil Emergencies Planning Security of energy routesSecurity of energy routes Scientific and Environmental Co-operationScientific and Environmental Co-operation

Why and How Might NATO Extend Its Support to Regional Co-operation? Challenges AheadChallenges Ahead –Black Sea region = littoral states, Wider Black Sea, or …BOTH, on a case by case basis? –Deal with political sensitivities related to regional co- operation

Conclusions Strong reasons for NATO to expand its role in the Wider Black Sea regionStrong reasons for NATO to expand its role in the Wider Black Sea region Need for:Need for: –Political will from Allies and Partners to promote and extend democracy and stability in the region –Imagination to set up new projects or support existing ones –Perseverance to implement agreed projects