by Tomas Valasek, for the Center for European Reform (CER )

France and the UK are close to an agreement that would dramatically improve relations between the EU and NATO. The two institutions currently make poor partners. They are not allowed to discuss important issues like Kosovo.
France had long championed the EU over NATO but President Nicolas Sarkozy changed that. He has ordered his diplomats to stop obstructing NATO’s work and offered to return France to NATO’s military structures.
Britain should now respond to Sarkozy’s initiative by agreeing with France to strengthen the EU’s defence policy. And Turkey should be offered a bigger role in the EU’s security and defence policy. Together, these steps hold promise of much better EU-NATO ties.

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