Reid calls for EU-Nato partnership

John Reid has said the EU should smooth out its differences with the US over the organisation of Europe's armed forces.

The defence secretary said he wants Britain's presidency of the EU to prompt a coming together between the defence strategies of America and Europe.

The Bush administration has been concerned that the EU's security and defence policy is emerging as a rival to Nato.

But in an interview with the FT on Thursday, Reid stressed Nato was still the "cornerstone" of European defence.

But he said the two organisations could complement each other, arguing the EU could bring additional diplomatic and political strengths not existent in Nato.

Reid cited the EU's current mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where it took over from Nato's peacekeeping mission and has been working to rebuild the country's policing and judiciary systems, as a promising model.

Unlike Nato, which was intended for high-intensity conflicts, the EU mission had been successful in more civil-military missions like disarming factions and "shaping the peace process", he said.

"I think that sits in a sensible position between those who, it is said, fear Europe's identity as a threat to Nato, or those on the other hand who see Nato as sort of handcuffs on Europe," Reid added.

The defence secretary did not rule out the EU developing capabilities in "heavy combat scenarios".

But he said it was imperative that such capabilities were complementary to Nato, and the two organisations should  "operate in partnership, and not competitors in a zero sum game".

The call for collaboration came ahead the gathering of EU defence ministers at RAF Lyneham on Wednesday.

Reid also argued much of the continent was not spending enough on defence and had yet to transform their militaries into forces that could be deployed quickly around the globe.

"If you ask the question whether everyone in Europe is spending enough on defence, and has put defence on a transformed and efficient footing, I think the answer would have to be no," he said.

"You have to look at increasing the level of funding as well as increasing the level of effectiveness of the forces we do have."