Observatory on European defence, February 2010

February 2, 2010
NATO MULTINATIONAL FORCE SCALED DOWN IN KOSOVO
In line with plans announced in 2009, the NATO multinational force in Kosovo has been scaled down by 3,000 soldiers. The force is now 10,000 strong. The mission commander has ensured that such reduction will not mean less security, but greater flexibility.

February 5, 2010
ROMANIA WILL HOST PART OF THE U.S. ANTI-MISSILE SHIELD
The President of Romania Traian Basescu has announced that he had accepted the U.S. proposal to host some components (interceptors missiles) of the new anti-missile shield, designed by the Obama administration after having revaluated the Iranian threat in September 2009. The new shield has been designed to intercept potential short and medium-range missiles launched from Iran, instead of long-range missiles as originally planned by the Bush administration project.

February 11, 2010
EP REJECTS US-EU AGREEMENT ON JUDICIAL COOPERATION
The European Parliament has refused to approve the provisional US-EU agreement on transfer of financial data for the fight against international terrorism, adopted by the Council in 2009.
According to MEPs, the agreement did not provide sufficient guarantees for protecting the privacy of citizens and control the actual use of data collection by the U.S. authorities. Consequently, the European Council has notified the U.S. government the non-enforcement of the agreement, suggesting the opening of new negotiations. It is the first time that the European Parliament has used its veto power that has been provided by the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon.

February 25, 2010
EU INTERNAL SECURITY STRATEGY APPROVED
The Justice and Home Affairs Council has approved the Internal Security Strategy for the European Union, designed to complement actions on judicial cooperation, border control and civil protection, and to develop new instruments and common policies in an integrated way.
The Council has also decided to establish a Standing Committee on Operational Cooperation on Internal Security (COSI), which will coordinate the cooperation of police and customs, the activities of border control and judicial cooperation in criminal matters. In addition, the Council has approved a package of 29 measures to strengthen the protection of EU external borders and the contrast against illegal immigration.