The discussion paper "Better NATO-EU relations require more sincerity," by Can

Buharali describes the cooperation efforts undertaken by NATO and the European
Union since the end of the Cold War, as the EU's foreign policy and security
functions have increased. A series of agreements, known as Berlin Plus, were
finalized between the two organizations in 2002. The following year the first EU-led
peackeeping operation with access to NATO assets and capabilities was undertaken
in Macedonia. From 2004 onward, however, NATO-EU cooperation has stalled. The
involvement of Turkey, a NATO member, in the European security sphere became
very difficult after Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, difficulties Buharali recounts at
length. Prior to gaining EU membership, Turkey is not able to participate in EU
meetings on security issues and has not been consulted on some EU operations in
its neighborhood. Buharali also cites US ambivalence about the EU's increasing
autonomy and disagreements within the EU as reasons for strained NATO-EU
relations. He urges renewed cooperation between the two in 2010 as NATO reviews
its Strategic Concept. The Strategic Concept and the EU's Security Strategy, which
was reviewed at the end of 2008, should complement each other. All members of
NATO including non-EU members, should be able to further review the European
Security Strategy as this process goes forward. The EU, Buharali says, must also
take steps to be more inclusive toward non-EU allies, allowing them to voice their
concerns in discussions over European security.

Cooperation between the EU and NATO is certainly necessary if the EU hopes to

achieve true common policy and action on security matters. Given how closely the
membership of the two groups overlaps, it hardly makes sense for them not to
cooperate. The Cyprus problem should not be allowed to get in the way. I think the
EU was wrong to admit Cyprus before the dispute over its division was resolved. The
fact that Cyprus, by itself, now has the power to obstruct Turkey's membership
negotiations and cooperation with the Union in other areas is silly, and the
unanimity rules which allow it to do so probably need to be changed in the future.
The EU will be able to accomplish little otherwise. Buharali's closing section, on
what steps should be taken by the EU and NATO going forward, especially regarding
the EU's consultation with non-member allies, was disappointingly short. While his
recommendations sound sensible, I would like to hear more about them.

http://www.gmfus.org//doc/Discussion%20Paper%20Series.pdf